The God and Gigs Show | Helping Christian Artists and Creatives Succeed Without Compromising Their Faith

Where should we draw the line when it comes to creating scenarios and content based around the Bible? 

Author and composer Rick Norris, former entertainment CPA turned creator of musical novels, joins Allen C. Paul to answer the biggest controversy in faith-based storytelling: is biblical fiction a sin? If you've ever felt called to write Christian books but feared pushback, this conversation will give you clarity and courage.

Rick shares why he writes novels rooted in his theological studies, how he combines his music and writing into a unique reading experience, and why projects like T...

After visiting over 160 countries and witnessing the most frightening, heartbreaking and tense situations around the world - what happens to your faith? And what does it take to tell stories that impact people who will never see what you saw? 

After more than four decades as a TV director, documentary filmmaker, media professor, and global trainer—working across 160+ countries— Craig D. Forrest has seen everything a creative could imagine. In this episode, he shares  what the world actually looks like beyond the stereotypes and headlines, and how his faith shaped his ability to tell stories most would never...

Imagine, in a flash of pain and fear, that the skills and gifts that define you are suddenly taken away. What would you do next? 

Former professional violist Janet Gesme shares how a tragic car accident radically changed her career and led her on a healing journey - one that revealed a brand new calling as a literary translator. Janet opens up about letting go of her music career, wrestling with identity in Christ, and learning to trust God's plan one step at a time.

If you're struggling to find your purpose after loss, transition, o...

In this interview, sheriff’s lieutenant and novelist Rodney Carpentier shares how he wrote his first book while working full time in law enforcement, and what it takes to keep a creative dream moving during long shifts and busy family seasons.

If you are trying to create while holding down a demanding job, you'll discover how to find time and keep your motivation from fading. Rodney talks about writing in the hours before a shift, drafting during a stretch of sick leave, and why a 500-word day still counts toward the finished book.

Whether you ar...

When God presents you with a new door, opportunity or potential circle of friends, do you step in confidently - or freeze? 

Are you hesitant to embrace new challenges - all because you're afraid of being rejected by the people who are already in the room?  

If you've battled self-doubt and fear about the way people will respond to you as a creative entering new areas, this episode is for you. 

We sat down with Emmy-nominated choreographer, speaker and author Bradley Rapier for a deep conversation on getting into the groove as a Chr...

Have you opened your Bible hoping for inspiration, revelation, or direction for your creative life - only to find yourself a little lost? 

If so, I want to know what you're feel that you're missing, so I can help with the solution. 

In this quick update episode, I (Allen) am sharing from on-site at the YouVersion Partner Summit in Oklahoma City, as I'm receiving some of the best content training possible from the people who built the world's most popular Bible app ( over a billion installs)

It's because of creators like you that I...

Feel like it's impossible to chase a creative dream when marriage, kids, and full-time careers are already filling your life and schedule? While it's hard, it is possible - and one couple is proving it while creating a world of their own. 

In this conversation, nuclear engineer and veteran Lucas Fischhaber and his wife and co-author Shauna share how they maintain a multi-book writing project while carrying the load of raising a family and maintaining traditional jobs.  

You'll discover how a bedtime story became an epic fantasy series that they now are co-writing. You'll hear an...

Reluctant to step forward and share your message? You may be cheating yourself and delaying God's blessings and opportunities. In this episode, you see how accepting God's call to create - no matter how scary - leads to favor and purpose in your life. 

Mark Osborne, host of The Valiant Forge podcast, had many issues to overcome in his life - a marriage on the brink, a health scare that challenged his discipline - but the biggest challenge was stepping into a role he thought was too much for him. Here he reveals what fear a...

Many creatives - maybe even you -  sometimes think that being talented is enough to carry a person from struggle into purpose. Unfortunately, time after time, we discover that talent can not be your foundation. 

Grammy-nominated arranger and jazz trumpet veteran Fletch Wiley joins me to share how God radically changed his life and delivered him from drug addiction in just twelve hours — and how that transformation set him on a path straight into the band of gospel legend Andrae Crouch and a myriad of new opportunities. 

Hit play and let's dive in.

0:00 A Mus...

If you've been told you can't succeed in the arts and content creation space without niching down...this episode explains why you should ignore that advice. 

Multi-Passionate Christian creatives often struggle to find a space where they can feel comfortable exploring multiple areas of their gifting, and that was the place that I (Allen) found myself years ago as I began writing God and Gigs - the book that launched this platform. 

Now, 10 years later, I've been voted in to speak at a major podcast conference.

 How did these passions intersect between writing, min...

How do YOU respond to tragedy, struggles and difficulties? Many creatives spend their entire lives hiding their pain, pretending they aren't affected by trauma - only to fall apart later.  But there's a better way. 

Jessica Danel, podcaster and author of "Bucket List of a Redneck Girl", decided not to let her childhood struggles, near business failures and moments of doubt and fear go to waste. Instead, she shares her messy moments openly in her books and podcasts - and it's led to a new kind of creative freedom. 

In this episode, Jessica opens up abo...

Pick a lane, niche down, master just one thing. That's the conventional path to success every creative has heard. But it's rarely that simple. And when you have multiple skills, you have to show up and overcome your imposter syndrome in not just one area, but multiple ones. So which is it? 

 Is working in multiple fields a path to confusion and failure as a creative? Or is God taking you on a unique path that actually breaks the mold?

To figure this out, we talk to Matt Evans - a comic, writer, visual artist an...

Pick a lane, niche down, master just one thing. That's the conventional path to success every creative has heard. But it's rarely that simple. And when you have multiple skills, you have to show up and overcome your imposter syndrome in not just one area, but multiple ones. So which is it? 

 Is working in multiple fields a path to confusion and failure as a creative? Or is God taking you on a unique path that actually breaks the mold?

To figure this out, we talk to Matt Evans - a comic, writer, visual artist an...

Most creators think that when God inspires you to start a creative project, success is just around the corner. They're sorely mistaken.

After starting God and Gigs, I (Allen) almost lost this podcast in 2017 — five months dark, no way back online. Now, 400 episodes later, I'm sharing the real story behind how this podcast made it through the early obstacles, and the three things that kept me going. Press play if you are a faith-fueled creative who is questioning if you should stick with your dream when nothing seems to be shifting in your favor.

Tap HE...

So many creators are seeking fame, wealth, and visibility on huge platforms like YouTube - only to discover the dangers of that pursuit way too late. And that's the mistake our guest made - one he's still learning from. 

Before becoming chief creator coach for VidIQ, Tim Schmoyer built one of YouTube's most successful video consulting businesses — then sold it when life abruptly reminded him that he was headed down the wrong path. 

In this heartfelt and powerful conversation, Tim shares how that reckoning led him away from chasing views and validation, to the point of m...

Most people think confidence has to come before you step into your gift. It doesn't. If you're waiting to feel ready before you use what God gave you, that's exactly why you're still standing on the sidelines.

Chantae Cann proves that belief wrong. She's a renowned indie jazz and soul artist who has worked with luminaries like PJ Morton, Snarky Puppy, and India Arie, and she is also a creative and vocal coach for other artists. 

In this timeless interview, Allen and Chantae get into the shift in her thinking that lets her create from f...

Many creatives let the tough moments of life - a tragic loss, unexpected struggles, a season of isolation - steal their creative dream. But it doesn't have to be that way. 

If you're waiting for the pain to pass before you pick your creative gift back up, you might be delaying your own healing. 

In this episode, author and artist Ruth Douthitt joins host Allen C. Paul to talk about the twenty-two years between writing down the idea for her first book and actually publishing it, and the incredibly difficult season of grief, loneliness and lo...

You're feeling a persistent nudge to start a podcast — but is it God, or just your own desire?  In this episode, we break down the 4 clear signs God is calling you to start a podcast, and how to step into that calling without fear, doubt, or waiting until everything is perfect.

Whether you're a musician, entrepreneur, Christian artist, speaker, or writer — your voice was created to reach someone. But if you're still on the fence, or you're totally confused about how to start your podcast, you might be delaying taking the step that could unlock an incredible new c...

Got a thousand ideas but stuck trying to choose one to actually bring to life?

 Maybe you're chasing your God-given creative gifts, but the ideas keep pulling you in different directions and you're not sure where to start. Or maybe you've hit a crossroads where God is calling you toward something creative, and you're scared to trust Him fully and go for it.

If any of that sounds familiar, this conversation is for you.

Today we're talking with Yany Isaacs, founder of Coaching with Yany and the CreateHER coaching program. She's a Navy v...

What would you do if the thing that scares you the most actually happened? 

For many creators, having their gift or career taken away would feel like a death sentence.  

Could you trust God if your future as a creator was uncertain? 

In this transparent episode, host Allen C. Paul shares how he handled a potentially career-threatening injury, and the lessons he learned about faith and trusting God with your creative dreams when the storms of life come your way. 

You'll discover the Biblical truths and foundational mindset you'll need to over...

What if the key to your next creative chapter isn't a strategy, or a career hack - but instead opening yourself up to a new relationship? 

In this episode, Allen sits down with Wendy and Derek Hadinger, the husband-and-wife duo behind the Create A Way Today Podcast, for a conversation about what happens when creators give each other permission to explore their gifts in their God-given design! 

 Wendy is an author, illustrator, book publisher and caricature artist with 30 years in the business. Her husband Derek is a registered nurse, musician, and author. Outside his medical pro...

Ever feel like a dry season in your creative life means something's wrong between you and God? 

In this episode, Allen breaks down why writer's block doesn't actually equal spiritual disconnection — and walks through four practical moves for what to do when the ideas stop showing up. 

If you're a Christian creator who's ever judged yourself for an empty page, this one's for you.

Struggling to renew your inspiration and feeling uninspired? Need help breaking through your creative blocks? Request our FREE resource "Breakthrough the Block: 5 Ways to Renew Your Inspiration" using the link...

Have you ever found yourself in conflict as an artist with the church you want to serve - either because you didn't fit the mold, or the church didn't know how to develop your skill? 

Is there a solution? Rick Sorenson thinks so. 

As a lifelong artist, and now author and speaker, Rick has relentlessly explored the connections between faith, creativity, and worship. In this conversation we explore all three to help you realize the key to finding your place in a congregational setting as a creator - and to help churches better shephard their cr...

It seems EVERYONE is calling themselves a 'creator' these days - and they are using A.I. and all sorts of tools to do it. But what does Scripture say about being a creator? 

Are we missing the true meaning and power behind the word, and actually dumbing it down by applying it to anyone that it seems to fit? 

In this episode, we unpack a surprising Scripture verse that reveals the heart behind God's title as a Creator, so we can truly operate in the full confidence and authority we have as faith-focused creators. 

Negotiating a deal. Protecting your brand. Understanding contracts. Sound intimidating? In this episode, Allen sits down with entertainment attorney Amy Oraefo to explore why legal strategy isn't something you do after success—it's something you build before the opportunity arrives.

Amy has over 13 years of experience negotiating multi-million dollar deals for musicians, producers, podcasters, and content creators. She's an adjunct professor at the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Program at Kennesaw State University, an active member of the Recording Academy, and founder of Creative Passport—a platform designed to help emerging creatives navigate the entertainment industry and prot...

Thinking about FINALLY getting serious about building a creator business that goes BEYOND a hobby? 

Let me guess...you're both inspired - and nervous.

You're inspired to try to push yourself further and really go for it in your creative pursuits. But you're nervous because you don't know if this is really God's will for your creator lifestyle. 

If you're feeling this tension, this episode will show you how to finally reconcile your feelings with the truth of what God is looking for when He gives you the desire to grow your creative wo...

Have you ever wondered how stand-up comedians keep an audience roaring with laughter? Is it just a God-given gift? Or does it require a discipline that is rarely noticed or understood? 

In this episode, you're going to get a inside-look at the real life of a comedian - how they break into the industry, work on their craft, and find a place in an ultra-competitive industry.  But that's not all - you'll also learn how you can maintain your values and stay true to your authentic personality when the industry sometimes treats your faith like a obstacle in...

You've got the gifts. You've got the talent. You show up, you do the work—and yet there's money on the table that you're not collecting.

Here's why: there are people out there right now who actually want to pay you, and they literally can't. Because you've made it too complicated for them to actually pull the trigger. 

 How much money have you possibly left on the table because someone was ready to hire you, ready to book you, ready to invest in your work—but the path to paying you just wasn't clear? 

But h...

Can you weave your faith into your creator work without compromising authenticity or turning your audience off? 

Whether you're a Christian author, musician, podcaster, or creative entrepreneur, you've probably struggled to figure out how to stay true to your faith while building mainstream success. In other words - being authentic without being heavy-handed or "preachy" with your message.

Author, voiceover artist and musician Aaron Ryan has experienced this first hand as he has written dozens of books in the sci-fi and other genres. At every turn, he's allowed his faith to be the primary factor i...

Are you 'winging it' when it comes to the business side of your creative life? 

In this episode, Allen C. Paul walks through five essential questions every creator must answer to move from "doing creative work" to "running a real business." Whether you're just getting started or thinking about next-level growth, these five pillars will help you protect your work, simplify your life, and free up mental space for the creativity that matters.

What You'll Learn

Have you been unknowingly saying 'no' to the creator opportunities you are praying for  - because they don't show up the way you expected?

From classical pianist, to music industry intern, to becoming a sought after consultant and eventually the digital marketing director of Shonda Rhimes' production company, Shondaland, Vannesia Darby's uncommon path proves that God positions you when you're faithful and available.

In this episode, Vannesia shares the pivotal decisions that helped her utilize her skills in each chapter of her creator life. She breaks down the "uncommon steps" that took her from independent c...

Do you experience a rude awakening every April when Tax Day approaches? 

If so, you're one of many creators who seem to be caught off-guard by this yearly reminder that your creator business is just that - a business. And the IRS does not take it easy on you just because you are not 'good at business.' 

In this episode, we're highlighting three critical money mistakes that could be devastating to your business - not just during tax season, but all year round - and we'll show you how fixing them can free you fr...

What do you do when you know you’re called to create… but your breakthrough hasn’t come yet?

In this episode, Chastity—recording artist and background vocalist for legendary artists like Musiq Soulchild —shares her journey as a background vocalist and creative navigating the tension between calling and timing. If you’ve been working in your craft for years and still feel overlooked, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

You’ll hear how to stay consistent, trust God in the waiting season, and keep growing when your career feels stuck.

Learn more a...

How should you respond as a faith-focused creator when you're faced with the most distressing moments of your life?  Should you unplug completely from your work? Does your art have a role in your healing? 

In this transparent excerpt from our Friday Creator Checkup livestream, I (Allen) am sharing my honest reflections after a sad and unexpected turn of events in my family. It's my hope that sharing my process of navigating this emotional rollercoaster, while still trying to stay in control of my creator career, will help you anytime you have to deal with a hard se...

In one of our most popular interviews, singer-songwriter Teea Goans shares the journey she took from being a successful country cover song artist to confidently sharing her own music - all because she followed God's prompting to take a leap of faith in her musical career. 

As a singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Teea Goans has experienced all the highs and lows of the artist lifestyle. Having performed at The Grand Old Opry and graced national radio and TV with timeless country western melodies, Teea’s story is synonymous with resilience and reinvention.  You'll be inspired to follow God...

What if the thing you call your “day job” is actually supposed to complement - not compete with - your creative calling?

In this episode, you’ll meet Chris Whittington—a steel industry executive with over 20 years in the corporate world who has also built a lifelong career as a recording artist, session musician and worship leader. Instead of choosing between business and music, Chris has learned how to balance both as dual callings.

You’ll hear how to integrate faith, creativity, and career without burnout, why your 9-to-5 might be funding your purpose, and how to sta...

Ever felt like your creative life depends on doing ALL the things - by yourself? 

In this episode, we take an honest look at the isolation many creators experience and why trying to carry every responsibility on your own eventually leads to burnout. 

You’ll learn how to start finding that support—even if it feels like no one around you understands what you’re building

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or stuck trying to do everything yourself, this conversation will help you rethink how community can change the way you build...

She built it. It worked. And then God asked her to let it go.

In this episode, we sit down with Joleen Steel — minister, former music studio owner, and co-leader of Camping Stick Kids — to talk about what it really means to build something that grows God's Kingdom while also stretching your faith and your creative gifts. 

You'll learn how to create a purpose-filled brand without tying your identity to it, thinking bigger for the Kingdom without chasing fame, and trusting God when the next step feels larger than your comfort zone.

If you’v...

Remember how our parents said "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?"

Sure, it may seem like old-fashioned advice, but it may save you from a ton of lost opportunities. 

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.

See the original IG post that inspired this episode here - https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6kr1JkUyp/

We're also making a personal appeal to all of ou...

Can Christian creators actually LEARN something from the Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show? 

In this episode, we'll unpack the one key lesson that all faith-centered creators can take from the cultural impact of this performance. 

We're also making a personal appeal to all of our viewers and listeners to share your thoughts about the podcast! What can we improve? 

Please share your thoughts via our textline, or send them to [email protected].

Have a minute to share some more thoughts with us? Let us know what you think in our...