The Pivot

You might know Rachael Lampa as a young CCM pop singer with mad vocal chops. And it seems that for a while, that’s how Rachael knew her self, too. She has had some amazing experiences as a musician, all kinds of cool things on TV and traveling the world with huge artists, and those are fun stories. But what clearly lights her up is the work that she and her family have done with the homeless and incarcerated communities around Nashville for the past ten years. Also, this episode features an incredible piece of writing by Taylor Leonhardt. For more about Rachael or People Loving Nashville, visit: RachaelLampaMusic.com PeopleLovingNashville.com To join the Food For The Hungry Chicken of the Month Club, please visit: FH.org/pivot For me about me and my music, please check out: AndrewOsenga.com EverybodyPivots.com Now, go do something awesome!

Kevin Twit is a pastor, theologian, songwriter and friend. He's a Nashville legend, having shepherded many artists and thinkers through their college years as the leader of RUF at Belmont University. An expert and frequent speaker on the subject of old hymns, he's just a smart dude, and I'm thankful to know him. He married Alison and I and we have been friends for over half my life now. Our internet was out at our house all last week, which shut down my upcoming interviews, so I thought I would repost this older, and yet very timely, conversation. To find out more about Kevin, you can visit: http://www.belmontruf.org/ For more about me or my music you can go to: https://www.andrewosenga.com/

Where do you even start with Ron Block. As a musician, he is an absolute legend. You know how many Grammys Taylor Swift has? Ten. John Legend? Ten. How many Grammys has Ron Block got? FOURTEEN!! You know how many Dove awards for best album packaging I have lost? Two. Ron has won a lot of those awards, of course, from his tenure as banjo and guitar player for Alison Krauss and Union Station. He’s also a member of the Soggy Bottom Boys, who were featured in the Coen Brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou. But for people who know Ron, you kind of forget pretty quickly that he’s a legend. Because he’s such an amazing guy. He’s a student who’s read more books than a lot of us have ever seen. If you follow him online you would know what a gift he has with the written word and the nuances of kindness and thoughtfulness. He is just overflowing with wisdom, and graciousness and our community is so much the better for it. Personally, I don’t know how often we have started talking about guitars or recording gear and then all of a sudden we’re talking about being fathers and husbands, and from there it’s a quick hop over to C.S. Lewis and the Apostle John, and back to guitars and gear. It’s all one conversation because the se things are all a part of one well-lived life. It was so fun to sit down with Ron and kick this off with a memory that has long stuck with me, of one of our first great conversations. I made an off the cuff remark, and his reply taught me more than many books I’ve read or sermons I’ve sat through. His faith in Jesus is practical and applicable in a way that shouldn’t be so surprising, but is. And it was a big game changer for me. Join us for this one and I think you’ll start to understand why. You can find Ron’s new album “A Light So Fair” AND sign up for online guitar or banjo lessons from the absolute master at: ronblock.com For more about me and my music or this podcast you can visit andrewosenga.com everybodypivots.com

David Johnson is the founder of an organization called Silent Images. They are storytellers who come alongside non-profits and ministries to help them share the work they’re doing through video and photography. But David wasn’t always a business owner or a ministry partner, or even a photographer. This is a great empowering story of what happens when you choose to say yes to the doors that open in front of you as you take simple steps forward in service, compassion and obedience. I found this conversation with David very encouraging. Silent Images is an amazing and vibrant company, and I really enjoyed my time with David Johnson and I know you will, too. If you’re interested in learning more about David and his work, you can find Silent Images at their website: silentimages.org You can find brakeman’s coffee and supply online at Brakemanscoffee.com For more about me and my music or this podcast you can visit andrewosenga.com everybodypivots.com

You probably know Mark Stuart as the lead singer of the massively successful band Audio Adrenaline. But he’s also a husband, a father, a new author, a divorcee, and a man deeply in love with the nation of Haiti. And, he lives in an RV…. Audio Adrenaline and The Normals, my first band, were actually label-mates around the turn of the century. Obviously, they were a huge success and we, we were not. The paths of our two bands rarely crossed. But I can tell you, the few times we did connect, we would ALWAYS walk away talking about how incredibly kind they were. I see after this conversation, that we were surely correct. What might be the most surprising, though, is how the band ended and what Mark’s like looked like afterwards. This is a story of a guy who lost everything, and how that’s where God met him. Mark is a passionate, honest guy with a renewed lease on life. I loved getting to connect with Mark and I hope you find this as encouraging and eye-opening as it was for me. For more info on Ben, check out his website: https://www.markstuartmedia.com/ Or get his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400213290?tag=nelsonbooks-20 Andrew's links: http://www.andrewosenga.com/ https://www.everybodypivots.com/

Ben Shive is a genius record producer, piano player, string arranger, and poet. He's also a husband, a father, a church elder, and a dear friend of mine, and to many in our community. I've known and worked closely with Ben for twenty years now, and while I've always marveled at his skill and musical prowess, in the last few years I've been more and more impressed by who Ben has been becoming as a person. He's had to deal with some major changes, particularly around health, and I've learned so much from watching the fruits of the Spirit be so evident in that process. I am always deeply encouraged by the time we get to spend together, and I'm thankful that we get to work together a lot again these days. I'm also glad that I get to bring so many of my artists into his orbit, and that I get to share this conversation with you. For more info on Ben, check out his website: http://www.benshive.com Andrew's links: http://www.andrewosenga.com/ https://www.everybodypivots.com/

A couple years ago Jeremy Cowart was named the “Most Influential Photographer on the Internet” by Huffington Post, Forbes and Yahoo. He’s also an artist, an entrepreneur, a public speaker and a husband and father of four kids. Before all that, he was probably the first “web designer” I had ever met, way back in the early 2000s. Not only is this dude an incredible artist and photographer, but he’s now building his own hotel. In his own words, he operates to "explore the intersection of creativity and empathy." Jeremy’s is a wild journey and a story that just might get you off your couch to go try to chase that crazy dream. This was a perfect episode to end this season before we take a break for the rest of the year. For more info on Jeremy, check out his website or his instagram: https://www.jeremycowart.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jeremycowart/ Sponsor a child through Compassion International today!! http://www.compassion.com/thepivot Get your tickets for Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" tour: https://www.andrew-peterson.com/tour Andrew's links: http://www.andrewosenga.com/ https://www.everybodypivots.com/

Don Donahue is back! Together, he and I spend this hour discussing questions sent in by listeners after our interview last month. We get to tell some great stories and talk about community, intentionality, and what it can look like to be open to God's leading in our lives. Thank you for these great questions! What an honor to get to share this hour with Don, one of my heroes. If you enjoy this kind of episode, let me know. I think it could be fun to do more of these in the coming season. Sponsor a child through Compassion International today!! http://www.compassion.com/thepivot Get your tickets for Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" tour: https://www.andrew-peterson.com/tour Andrew's links: http://www.andrewosenga.com/ https://www.everybodypivots.com/

Nate Larkin was a pastor, the son of a pastor, a young husband, and also a sex addict. His story is one of incredible sadness and also incredible hope. He has gone on to found an organization called the Samson Society, a fellowship of Christian men who are serious about authenticity, community, humility & recovery. It’s been a place of much healing for thousands of men walking through addiction. He is a fantastic storyteller with an infectious laugh and you’ll end up sitting in the parking lot, late for work, until this one’s done. Nate is the host of the Pirate Monk podcast and the Positive Sobriety podcast, alongside last week’s guest, David Hampton. I also need to give a big plug for the SamsonSociety.com website, where you can join virtual meetings pretty much any day and find friends around the world ready to help carry your burden. There are blogs, podcasts, ebooks, software, and a thousand different tools and resources to help guys walk out of isolation and shame and into healing and recovery. Sponsor a child through Compassion International today!! http://www.compassion.com/thepivot Get your tickets for Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb" tour: https://www.andrew-peterson.com/tour Andrew's links: http://www.andrewosenga.com/ https://www.everybodypivots.com/

David Hampton finally told a friend that he was an alcoholic. Years later, he’s now an addiction recovery specialist helping people out of the situation he had once been in himself. I first knew David, though, as the worship leader at the church I attended in college. I had heard through the grapevine that his wife was not doing well. I did not realize she was bedridden for years with MS, and sadly, I had not heard that she had passed away a few years ago. But truthfully, I probably would not have heard about any of this, had it not been for the fact that a few of my friends, friends who have undergone the long and incredible task of breaking addiction, who started telling me about this amazing man who had been guiding them into a life of sobriety. Once I connected the dots and realized this was a guy I at least knew a little bit, I just knew I had to talk to him. This was so rich, and so useful. You’re going to love learning more about David and enjoying this incredible conversation. For more about David you can visit his website: davidhamptoncprc.com Sponsor a child through Compassion International today!! http://www.compassion.com/thepivot Andrew's links: http://www.andrewosenga.com/ https://www.everybodypivots.com/