Advertise on podcast: The Deep End With Lecrae

Lecrae sits down with Joyce Meyer for a candid conversation about the story behind more than 50 years of ministry. Joyce opens up about surviving childhood sexual abuse, the long process of healing, and how her painful past ultimately shaped the way she ministers to others. She reflects on the early years of her calling, navigating ministry as a woman, and the criticism and misconceptions that have followed her throughout her career. They also unpack her connection to the Word of Faith movement, why her understanding of faith changed over time, and why she rejects the prosperity preacher label. Joyce shares what decades of walking with God have taught her about suffering, renewing your mind, forgiveness, and continuing to obey God when life does not go the way you prayed it would. Throughout the conversation, Joyce reflects on the lessons behind her memoir, My Battlefield: A Life Broken and Made Whole, and why she believes what you've been through can become part of how God equips you to help someone else. 01:33 Introduction 03:26 Joyce Meyer's Story of Abuse and Survival 09:19 How Joyce Was Called to Ministry 12:26 Your History Doesn't Have to Be Your Destiny 14:00 Sponsor 15:37 Healing After Sexual Abuse 20:03 Navigating Criticism as a Woman in Ministry 22:08 The Story Behind My Battlefield 23:11 Is Joyce Meyer a Prosperity Preacher? 26:39 How Her Understanding of Faith Changed 33:05 Lecrae's Experience with Battlefield of the Mind 39:21 Finding Purpose in What You've Been Through 44:16 Why Time with God Still Comes First 51:06 Healing Through Forgiveness 57:28 Confronting Evil and Helping People in Need 1:01:35 What Keeps Joyce Going After 50 Years? 1:04:33 Showing God's Love to People If God is calling you into counseling or ministry, take the next step! Apply to Richmont Graduate University by November 1 and use promo code "Lecrae" to waive the $50 application fee. Richmont.edu Reclaim your faith from OCD. Book a free 15 min call at https://www.treatmyocd.com/ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

Divorce is one of the hardest things to talk about in church. We know how to celebrate marriage, but we don't always know how to sit with people when it ends. I sat down with four Christians who have lived through divorce or a broken engagement. We talked about the warning signs, the grief, the questions they had for God, and how they began to rebuild. They were honest about their own choices and about the ways the church helped—or made an already painful season harder. If you've ever felt like the end of a relationship made you less welcome in church, I hope this conversation reminds you that your story isn't over. Full episode of The Deep End is out now. _________ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

Rickey Smiley sits down with Lecrae for a deeply personal conversation about faith, grief, and the pain hidden behind a lifetime of making people laugh. Rickey opens up about losing his 32-year-old son, Brandon, and the devastating journey that followed. He shares what it was like learning the news while alone in Dallas, having to lead his family through the tragedy, and why he says he didn't simply lean on God—God carried him. They also discuss Rickey's upbringing in the Black church, surviving being shot at point-blank range, the golden era of '90s comedy, the importance of therapy, and why Black men need the freedom to cry. Rickey also reveals how friends disappeared and people attacked him publicly during the darkest year of his life. This is an honest conversation about trusting God when life no longer makes sense, finding gratitude in unimaginable grief, and using your pain to help somebody else survive theirs.

Lecrae sits down with Boyz II Men founding member Shawn Stockman for a conversation that goes far beyond the music. Shawn reflects on the journey from a kid in Southwest Philly to becoming part of one of the biggest groups in the world, and what happened when the industry that celebrated them began to move on. He opens up about race, the realities behind the music business, the difficult years Boyz II Men faced as a group, and how his understanding of success and purpose changed through fatherhood. 01:04 Introduction 05:06 Shawn Stockman Before Boyz II Men 07:07 Dreaming of Being on Stage 09:11 The Moment His Mom Heard His Voice 12:56 From Classical Training to R&B 14:52 How His Father Changed His Life 17:17 The Audition That Almost Didn't Happen 19:54 The Road to Boyz II Men 25:19 How Shawn Joined the Group 26:50 The Truth Behind Boyz II Men's Clean Cut Image 30:27 Sponsor 32:21 Boyz II Men Had Nothing to Prove 35:35 Surviving Three Record Labels 37:31 When the Music Industry Moves On 40:24 Did Boyz II Men Create the Boy Band Blueprint? 41:47 Race and the Crossover Success of Boyz II Men 44:13 Could Their Success Happen Again? 47:50 Sponsor 50:29 What Really Happens Behind the Music Industry 51:29 Being Taken Advantage of at the Top 55:05 Learning the Business Behind the Money 58:22 What Kept Boyz II Men Together 1:00:04 When Michael McCary Left the Group 1:00:31 Going from Arenas to Empty Clubs 1:02:51 Why Success Couldn't Make Him Happy 1:05:43 Finding Purpose Through Fatherhood 1:08:35 Raising a Son with Autism 1:10:07 Why Shawn and His Wife Started Giving Back 1:12:09 Would Michael McCary Ever Rejoin Boyz II Men? Stay hydrated throughout your day. Use code lecrae for 20% off at dripdrop.com Go to pendulumlife.com/deepend for 20% off first order Get paid EARLY. with the Earn In App. Use code: DEEPENDWITHLECRAE_PODCAST: https://tinyurl.com/3veyjh6j Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

Lecrae welcomes Phillip Anthony Mitchell back to The Deep End for an honest conversation about the realities of public ministry. From navigating criticism and protecting his family to staying grounded in Scripture amid cultural pressure, Phillip reflects on the lessons he's learned as his platform has grown and why faithfulness has remained his highest priority. They also discuss the vision behind Access, the importance of prayer, and the heart behind Phillip's new book, Contend. 01:09 Introduction 03:00 Responding to Criticism with Humility 06:22 Navigating Influence Without Pride 08:40 How Public Ministry Affects Family 11:33 Why Pastor Phillip Travels with Security 17:28 The Vision Behind Access 22:42 The Power of Corporate Prayer 24:03 Preaching the Bible in a Divided Culture 29:03 Why He Preaches Through Books of the Bible 30:07 Should Christians Charge for Live Events? 34:51 Fair Criticism vs. Unfair Criticism 36:23 The Cost of Public Obedience 37:35 What Phillip Anthony Mitchell Is Really Like 40:21 Why Christians Need to Stop Slandering Each Other 46:37 Confrontation vs. Public Call Outs 47:55 Encouragement for Faithful Pastors 49:18 The Message of Contend Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

This week, Lecrae sits down with bestselling author and Proverbs 31 Ministries president Lysa TerKeurst for an honest conversation about betrayal, emotional abuse, forgiveness, divorce, and learning to trust God when life doesn't go the way you hoped. Together, they unpack difficult questions many Christians wrestle with, including what Scripture actually says about divorce, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and how to recognize emotional abuse without minimizing its impact. Along the way, Lysa shares personal stories, biblical insight, and practical encouragement for anyone walking through disappointment, grief, or broken relationships.   For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription at DrinkAG1.com/deepend. Take control of your money with Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck. Grab your copy at anthonyneal.com/book. Life is busy. Getting term life insurance doesn't have to be. Apply online and get coverage in as little as 10 minutes at meetfabric.com/lecrae

Lecrae welcomes Dr. Sarita Lyons back to The Deep End for a conversation about healing from relational wounds and navigating difficult conversations with biblical wisdom. Together, they explore how family brokenness shapes us, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, why "protecting your peace" isn't always biblical, and what true healing looks like through the lens of the gospel. They also dive into women in the Church, navigating church hurt without abandoning Scripture, and why our deepest wounds can never be healed apart from Christ. Whether your relationship with your mother has been life giving, complicated, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers biblical wisdom, practical insight, and a hopeful path toward healing. ____ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/ Stay hydrated throughout your day. Use code lecrae for 20% off at dripdrop.com Looking to make a difference this Hunger Action Month? Find ways to give and volunteer at feedingamerica.org/hungeractionmonth Reclaim your faith from OCD. Book a free 15 min call at https://www.treatmyocd.com/ Sign up for your $1/month trial today at shopify.com/deepend Turn the clothes you no longer wear into extra cash with Vinted. Download the app for free and keep 100% of what you earn. For a limited time, enjoy free shipping in the U.S.

For years, the world has known Dwight Howard through highlights, headlines, and controversy. This conversation tells a different story. From the pressure of carrying his faith into the NBA to navigating public failure, fatherhood, and the search for purpose beyond basketball, Dwight reflects on the lessons that shaped him both on and off the court. If you've only followed the headlines, this episode offers a different perspective. 0:00 Introduction 01:13 Dwight Howard's NBA Journey 03:48 Wanting to Change the NBA for Jesus 04:32 The Pressure of Being 18 in the NBA 07:05 Fame, Temptation & Growing Up Fast 11:35 Feeling Like God Was Silent 13:59 What I'd Tell My Younger Self 15:03 What It Means to Die to Yourself 15:59 The Truth About Superman 17:22 The Weight of Representing Christ 19:03 "Am I Just Experiencing Life?" 20:55 Living with Public Criticism 22:55 Fatherhood & Learning from the Past 25:52 The Reality of Dating as an NBA Star 31:49 The Cost of Greatness 33:37 Kobe, LeBron & Finding Balance 38:34 The Double Standard of Public Faith 41:33 My Purpose Beyond Basketball 43:10 How I Handle the Hate 45:39 More Than the Headlines Get 20% for the first 6 months at www.Quo.com/DEEPEND Go to pendulumlife.com/deepend for 20% off first order Get paid EARLY. with the Earn In App. Use code: DEEPENDWITHLECRAE_PODCAST: https://tinyurl.com/3veyjh6j

Lecrae has won Grammys, earned platinum records, topped the Billboard charts, and shared rooms with some of the most famous people in the world. Yet even at the height of his success, he still felt insignificant. In this episode, Lecrae reveals the hidden reality of fame and explains why achievement, recognition, and acceptance can never heal insecurity. He shares what finally helped him stop chasing validation, confront the wounds beneath his ambition, and find his identity in who God created him to be. Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

Lecrae sits down with Dr. Tony Evans, Beth Moore, and Pastor Jeffrey Johnson Sr. for a rare conversation about the state of the American church—and what it will take to move forward faithfully. Together, they address why younger generations are leaving the faith, the divide between Christianity and American politics, the role of women in ministry, navigating prolonged singleness, enduring painful seasons, and knowing when it's time to pass the mantle. With more than 140 years of combined ministry experience, these Christian leaders share hard-earned wisdom about following Jesus through every season of life. Filmed live at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church. CHAPTERS 0:00 The Wisdom the Church Needs Right Now 1:19 Lecrae Introduces the Roundtable 5:36 What Is the Kingdom of God? 7:29 What the American Church Gets Wrong 9:10 Passing the Mantle to the Next Generation 12:37 Why Young People Are Leaving the Church 18:15 Finding Purpose in Pain 23:58 Should Christians Get Involved in Politics? 31:21 The Debate Over Women in Ministry 38:06 What to Do When You're Tired of Being Single 42:24 How to Finish Life Well 49:25 Lecrae Honors Their Legacy 49:56 A Prayer for the Next Generation _ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/ Progressive See why more than 43 million people trust Progressive at progressive,com

You've seen the clip. Before Lecrae responds to Marcus Rogers, he asks a harder question: when did we start treating Matthew 18 like a flowchart for public callouts instead of a chapter about not losing your brother? In this episode, Lecrae unpacks the viral clip from Marcus Rogers and uses it as a launching pad for something bigger than one callout: how discernment culture works, where it goes wrong, and what Scripture actually asks of us when we think someone's walking crooked. He walks through his own past failure judging an artist he'd never met, breaks down what Matthew 18 says (and what it doesn't), and separates testing what someone teaches from diagnosing their heart. Along the way: the Killer Mike story, the Kirk Franklin question, the South by Southwest moment people still bring up, and the Will Smith clip everyone's been quoting out of context. _______________________________________________ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

Is Christian dating actually broken… or are we just doing it wrong? Lecrae sits down with B. Simone, Toni Collier, Chaz Smith, and Matthew Hudson for an honest, hilarious, and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about modern dating, singleness, sex, celibacy, standards, leadership, healing, and what it really looks like to pursue relationships God's way. From waiting until marriage and dating after divorce to unrealistic expectations and learning how to be content while single, nothing is off the table. Whether you're dating, waiting, healing, or wondering if your person is even out there, this conversation is for you. Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/ Get paid EARLY. with the Earn In App. Use code: DEEPENDWITHLECRAE_PODCAST: https://tinyurl.com/3veyjh6j Protect your family today at meetfabric.com/lecrae Stay hydrated throughout your day. Use code lecrae for 20% off at dripdrop.com

Tim Keller was Lecrae's Michael Jordan. Ten years of sermons, a shared reading list with Kendrick Lamar, and a friendship that started with him shaking like "a stripper in church on Sunday." Then 2016 happened, and Lecrae stopped listening to any theologian who looked like Keller. In week two of his series on the men who shaped his theology, Lecrae gets brutally honest about Doctor Timothy Keller: the missionary sermon that rewired how he saw the city, the years of silence during his own "disorientation," and the moment he came back around to find Keller had been standing in the gap the whole time. He talks about writing a book together, watching Keller invest in Bronx pastors most reformed circles ignored, and the small paperback — The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness — that became a spiritual anchor. And he tells the story of a breakdown in Mexico, a copy of Prodigal Prophet, and an actual whale outside his window. This one is personal, complicated, and honest about a man Lecrae calls one of the great Western Christian thinkers — flaws included. Struggling with intrusive thoughts around your faith? It could be OCD, and it's highly treatable. Book a free 15-minute call with NOCD: [NOCD LINK — confirm exact URL/promo code from sponsor before publishing] Feeling stuck in your faith, marriage, or purpose? Reconstruct U is Lecrae's community for rebuilding all three. [Confirm exact URL — transcript audio is unclear between "start.reconstructu.com" and a possible hyphenated variant; verify before publishing] Chapters: 00:00 The theologian who made him nervous like a fan meeting Jordan 03:05 Picking up where the Piper conversation left off 05:00 The father wound behind every theological hero 08:28 A friend named Miguel and the sermon that changed everything 10:13 Trained to be missionaries, not just pastors 10:31 The oil spill metaphor that reshaped his view of the city 16:40 2016 and the year he went quiet 20:51 Why he stopped listening to every white theologian 23:39 Coming back around and catching wind of what he'd missed 27:28 The panel, the book, and the wisdom he didn't expect 28:42 Why he thinks history will remember Keller like C.S. Lewis 34:55 The thin book he makes every artist he signs read 36:18 A breakdown in Mexico, a book about Jonah, and a whale outside the window 41:01 What's coming next: Mark Driscoll Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/

"I made an idol out of John Piper." Lecrae doesn't say that lightly. For years, John Piper shaped the way he read the Bible, understood God, wrote music, and approached ministry. His sermons became the soundtrack to an entire season of Lecrae's life. When he finally met Piper, after meeting celebrities, athletes, and presidents, no one left him more starstruck. But admiration has a way of becoming something else. In this episode, Lecrae opens up about growing up without a father. He shares why he was unknowingly looking for affirmation from older spiritual leaders. He reflects on how John Piper became the father figure he didn't realize he was searching for,  and explains what happened when racial tension, church hurt, and life experience forced him to reevaluate everything he once accepted without question. Lecrae also shares how his view of Piper has changed over the years, why he believes gratitude and critique can coexist, and what it looks like to honor the people God used in your life without expecting them to carry what only Jesus can. 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/ Go to myskylight.com to save $30. Your family needs to be in sync. 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

From the time he was 7 years old, his dad told him: people like you and want to hear what you have to say. Judah Smith spent the next four decades finding out what that actually meant — and what it cost. He became one of the most recognizable preachers in America. Known as Bieber's pastor. Called America's sexiest pastor. Put on the Mount Rushmore of celebrity pastors. And now, sitting across from Lecrae, he says the scariest thing he's ever admitted out loud: his critics might be right about him. In this episode, Judah opens up about growing up 7th generation in a preaching family with real darkness in its history, the moment he realized he'd been preaching about a Jesus he wasn't sure he actually knew, what happened with Mark Driscoll, the spiritual father who asked to get paid, the friends who disappeared when his circumstances changed, and why he's giving the rest of his life to the 50% of Americans who say they'll never step foot in a church. He also announces a Netflix deal live on camera. Nobody in the room knew it was coming. 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/ Reclaim your faith from OCD. Book a free 15 min call at https://www.treatmyocd.com/ Protect your family today at meetfabric.com/lecrae Apply for your Master's in Counseling or Ministry Today: https://admissions.richmont.edu