The Greg Laurie Show

Rick Rubin is considered by many to be the greatest music producer alive today. His work spans the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Run-DMC, Adele, U2, Neil Diamond, and his legendary American Recordings with Johnny Cash. He has also become one of the most influential voices in culture. His interviews include Paul McCartney in McCartney 3,2,1 and Jay-Z in the HBO series JAŸ-Z in 8. On his podcast, Tetragrammaton, he recently sat down with Neil Young. Now add one more name to that list: Pastor Greg Laurie.In this unusual episode, legendary producer Rick Rubin turns the microphone around and interviews Greg about his life, faith, and the Jesus Movement that shaped him. The conversation moves at the pace of a long dinner between curious friends. Greg answers Rick's questions about faith, baptism, communion, the Holy Spirit, the Sabbath, and whether the God of the Old Testament really differs from the God of the New. He also speaks candidly about losing his son Christopher and what grief taught him about ministering to people in pain.Listen to the original episode on Rick Rubin's Podcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pastor-greg-laurie/id1671669052?i=1000793610276Youtube: https://youtu.be/KGR27hIf8Ow?si=v6Zp5ihvgBCQB2Wv Timestamps:00:00 Open00:06 Welcome and how the Rick Rubin interview came together04:17 Salt and light: pastor vs evangelist06:46 Growing up with a Marilyn Monroe mother and seven stepfathers08:46 Meeting the Jesus freaks and Lonnie Frisbee on campus11:54 Who Lonnie Frisbee really was17:00 Chuck Smith, the steady father figure18:46 Conditions that sparked the Jesus Revolution23:00 Was it just LA, or everywhere?25:53 Deepening faith and losing his son Christopher32:31 Always learning: how understanding Scripture grows39:51 Learning about Jesus after conversion42:02 Starting Harvest without meaning to start a church46:36 Friendship with Billy Graham50:09 Jesus's teachings vs church theology51:53 What faith actually is55:06 The Holy Spirit explained58:47 When burnt offerings stopped01:00:43 Baptism and the recent baptism movement01:03:25 Communion and the Last Supper01:07:00 How Greg prepares a sermon01:12:23 Is the Old Testament God more judgmental?01:15:31 Music, Love Song, and the birth of Christian music01:22:36 Church as grassroots vs industry01:25:08 What's stayed the same since Jesus's time01:27:12 Social media, TV, and the vet with the loaded gun01:29:34 The Sabbath and resting01:31:17 Bob Dylan's conversion and Slow Train Coming01:33:07 Did you choose Jesus or did Jesus choose you? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What would you have done during the Holocaust? Rev. Jonnie Moore says that's no longer a hypothetical question. In this conversation, Pastor Greg Laurie sits down with Johnnie Moore—advisor to presidents, humanitarian, and one of the most connected evangelical voices on the global stage—three years after the October 7th attacks on Israel. We cover:• What actually happened on October 7th (and why the world moved on too quickly)• Hamas, Iran, and the reshaping of the Middle East• The surge of antisemitism on both the left and the right• Feeding Gaza while Hamas stole aid• Sharing the gospel with Muslims and Jews• Why Silicon Valley is quietly calling pastors about AI• What President Trump is really like behind closed doors• The best piece of advice Johnnie ever received — from a rabbi Johnnie grew up moving 20 times before age 12, ended up at Liberty under Jerry Falwell Sr., and now works at the intersection of faith, foreign policy, and emerging technology. His story — and his warnings — are worth your time. Subscribe for more conversations like this. Timetamps 00:30 Meet Johnnie Moore02:03 Growing up in the Deep South after his parents' divorce03:00 The balloon-animal mentor who taught him business04:34 Finding faith as his parents' marriage fell apart06:40 Moving to Lynchburg and landing at Liberty08:20 How Jerry Falwell Sr. became a father figure11:54 Three years after October 7th16:46 What Hamas and Iran were really trying to do21:14 The genocide accusation and feeding Gaza26:00 Advising Trump on Iran and the nuclear red line30:51 Sharing the gospel with Muslims and Jews41:03 Leading a Jewish friend to Christ on FaceTime44:10 Why evangelicals must stand against antisemitism now48:26 Bots, bot farms, and the global information war53:49 Why so many pastors are afraid to speak up56:15 Is AI a blessing or a threat?01:01:23 Why Silicon Valley is calling pastors01:06:19 AI as therapy and the church's human advantage01:07:30 Advice to a younger Johnnie: take more risks01:11:16 What would surprise you about President Trump01:16:00 The best advice he ever got, from a rabbi Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Cartoonist Butch Hartman—creator of Nickelodeon's *The Fairly OddParents*—sits down with Greg to talk about a career built on drawing, storytelling, and eventually surrender. Butch traces his path from a chaotic Michigan childhood, where cartoons were a refuge, to CalArts, Hanna-Barbera, and the day Ted Turner told the staff they could pitch their own ideas. He explains why limited animation gave Fred Flintstone a five o'clock shadow, why confidence with ink matters more than talent, and why he left Nickelodeon in 2018 to build a studio around *The Garden*—a Christian series he self-funded when no one else would. Along the way: how tithing broke a stronghold, why he and his wife now pastor a church that started under a tree, and his conviction that if God gives the vision, He gives the provision. Timestamps 00:00 Prototype plush and the $8,000 Goofy maquette story01:22 Meeting a fellow artist and Fairly OddParents' 18-year run03:07 CalArts, Hanna-Barbera and the day Cartoon Network launched05:16 How limited animation made TV cartoons possible06:14 Discovering he could draw by tracing Peter Pan on a wall07:41 Greg's chaotic childhood and the animator with the "magic pencil"09:04 Butch's Michigan upbringing and retreating into cartoons10:57 TV dads as father figures — Hugh Beaumont and Mike Brady12:03 Yellow Dog, brush pens and Mad Magazine influences16:17 Why caricaturing women is a bad idea17:34 Drawing fast at Magic Mountain and switching to digital19:13 First jobs: American Tail, Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls19:55 Seizing the pitch opportunity that changed everything21:05 Writing letters to Charles Schulz as a kid22:38 Getting saved at 35 at Crenshaw Christian Center24:47 Starting Church in the Park during COVID25:13 Preaching Esther on a whiteboard26:24 The Garden: making a Christian cartoon nobody else would28:52 Giving vs. the culture of self-worship30:26 Why Nickelodeon won't touch overtly Christian content31:50 Reaching unexpected people in unexpected places34:42 Where Butch stands on AI in animation37:27 Voice acting and playing Dr. Rip Studwell38:49 Favorite movies and the greatest animated film ever42:35 Human creativity, arrogance and the last days44:47 Advice to a younger Butch: don't be afraid46:13 Go-to Scriptures for anxiety and trust47:01 An invitation to make Jesus Lord of your life50:15 If God gives the vision, He'll give the provision51:32 How Butch wants to be remembered Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What does it mean to spiral—and is it actually possible to find blessings amid devastating loss? On today’s episode of The Greg Laurie Show, Pastor Greg welcomes author and pastor Levi Lusko for an honest—and often humorous—conversation about grief, calling, leadership, and the surprising ways faith can sustain us through the worst life has to offer.  Together, Pastor Greg and Levi trace their family’s intertwined journeys through ministry, loss, and redemption. From the nostalgia of swapping cassette tapes and youth ministry war stories to the raw pain of losing a child or parent, the two open up about suffering, resilience, and the pursuit of God’s purpose in real life. This conversation is both a balm for broken hearts and an encouragement for leaders, parents, or anyone wondering how to move forward when life gets overwhelming. Find Levi’s book on loss, Through the Eyes of a Lion, here: https://levilusko.com/through-the-eyes-of-a-lion.  Check out Blessed are the Spiraling here: https://www.blessedarethespiraling.com/.  -------- Want more from Greg Laurie? Visit:   https://harvest.org/. Find Pastor Greg on social media: https://www.instagram.com/greglaurie/ https://x.com/greglaurie https://www.facebook.com/harvest.greglaurie   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 How a Missed Mentorship Changed Everything02:33 First Meeting: From Fan to Friend04:33 Youth Ministry: “If You Can Preach to Teens…”06:38 Choosing Montana Over Harvest: Defining Your Calling08:05 Walking Through Grief: The Loss of Christopher12:05 “Seeing Through the Eyes of a Lion”: Lenya’s Legacy14:09 Navigating Grief: Guilt, Healing, and Connection16:33 Losing His Dad: “A Different Kind of Grief”17:51 Writing About Pain: Impact Beyond Tragedy18:25 “Success Builds Walls, Failure Builds Bridges”21:44 How Personal Loss Changed Pastoral Ministry22:09 Honoring Lost Loved Ones by Healing23:50 Brokenness, Empathy, and Leadership Growth24:20 Separating Grief: The Laundry Pile Analogy26:14 Hope in Heartbreak: “They’re Not Lost If You Know Where They Are”29:09 Parenting and Calling: Raising Kids in Ministry31:09 Marriage & Hydration: Keeping Relationships Alive32:27 “Intimacy Is Into-Me-You-See”: Wisdom for Newlyweds35:20 Message Prep: Connections, Curiosity & “Move It or Lose It”37:45 Preaching & Writing: The Unique Joys of Both39:46 Writing Habits: Seinfeld, Deadlines, and Staying Creative43:06 Staying Faithful: Why I Chose My Church Over Big Offers45:23 New Book: “Blessed Are the Spiraling” and Midlife Crisis47:38 From Fire to Significance: Shifting Life’s Focus51:25 Movement Conference: Investing in the Next Generation53:18 Learning to Champion Others, Not Compete55:12 What’s Changed in Reaching Young People58:16 “Make Your Bed”: Keystone Habits & Authentic Leadership59:45 The Power of Challenge, Not Coddling01:00:19 Last Meal? In-N-Out & Good Coffee01:01:11 Movies, Heroes, and Becoming Yoda01:02:19 Pulpit Bloopers: Unusual Booty and Other Slip-Ups01:05:08 Hope, Legacy, and What’s Next Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Frank Turek was near Charlie Kirk on the day he was killed at UVU. A year later, he sits down with Greg to talk about grief, evil, and what Charlie's legacy means for the church now. From there, the conversation opens up into Frank's new book, The War on Reality (co-written with Phoenix Hayes, with a foreword by Erika Kirk), and the cultural questions Frank is hearing most on college campuses today. In this episode:- The night Charlie was killed and what Erika said to Frank at the hospital- Why the top three objections to Christianity today are all about morality- The transgender conversation, detransitioners, and what to actually say to your kid- Why socialism keeps making a comeback on campus- The rise of antisemitism after October 7th- AI, hallucinations, and the "Madagascar" test that failed 33 out of 35 students- Plus: Beatles trivia, desert island songs, and Greg's awkward encounter with Ringo Learn more about Frank's book at thewaronreality.com. Subscribe for new conversations every week. Timestamps: 00:41 Remembering Charlie Kirk one year later02:26 Why it's not PTSD — it's normal grief04:11 Evil, eternity, and the ripple effect07:16 Erika Kirk: "Don't let his legacy die"09:53 How campus objections shifted to morality14:10 Is the church feeding the war on reality?18:34 The trans social contagion and detransitioners22:03 Questions to ask a child who says "I'm trans"25:38 Why socialism keeps making a comeback29:13 Ten reasons Christians must engage politically32:51 The hidden dangers of AI hallucinations37:20 The spiritual roots of rising antisemitism44:09 Go-to verses for stress and suffering49:42 One last sermon: glorified or horrified53:35 Beatles rabbit hole and witnessing to Ringo59:10 Why he wrote The War on Reality Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.