The GOA Speakers Podcast

Masey McLain - Faith and Film :: Ep 7 The GOA Speakers Podcast

Actress, screenwriter, and producer Masey McLain joins the GOA Speakers Podcast to share how God led her from the track and basketball court to film sets, and ultimately to her breakout role as Rachel Joy Scott in I’m Not Ashamed. Masey unpacks how God used rejection, hidden struggles, and “almost” opportunities to shape her character, deepen her dependence on Him, and clarify what kingdom she’s really building. She also explains how storytelling, screenwriting, and the idea of the “fatal flaw” help her call students and audiences to courageous, faith-filled choices. Timed Highlights: 00:08 GOA Speakers Podcast intro and Masey’s multifaceted creative work 01:43 From sports to the stage: the school play that changed everything 03:42 Discovering film acting and “feeling the Lord’s pleasure” in her calling 06:08 The year-long audition journey for I’m Not Ashamed 10:24 “You should only play mean girls”: a painful early audition moment 12:45 The sandwich-making executive producer and God’s intervention in casting 15:11 An unexpected masterclass email from Renee Zellweger 16:57 Resonating deeply with Rachel Joy Scott’s desire to make an impact 18:43 Playing the rebel in The Baxters and the limits of method acting 22:12 What Masey loves to speak on: storytelling, screenwriting, and faith 24:10 The “fatal flaw” in every character and why your choices define your story 27:13 High school loneliness, hidden eating struggles, and a mirror moment with God 30:37 Learning to choose trust when circumstances do not get easier 32:04 Brutal near-misses on Nashville and questioning God’s call 35:24 “Whose kingdom are you building?” – a confronting word from the Lord 37:32 The Gideon fleece, a Papa John’s commercial, and a casting director’s prophecy 41:26 Gifts as a means of sanctification more than success 42:38 Soul on Fire on Netflix and its surprising impact 43:24 Writing One More Christmas with Taylor Kalupa for Great American Family 44:40 A new women’s conference message and invitation to connect with Masey Learn more about GOA Speakers and Masey McLain at: https://goaspeakers.com/speakers/masey-mclain/

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith - Seven Types of Rest :: Ep 6 The GOA Speakers

Internal medicine physician and bestselling author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins the GOA Speakers Podcast to unpack sacred rest, identity shifts, and what it really means to live “burnout proof” in a performance-driven culture. She shares her journey from 25 years in ER/ICU medicine to global speaking, the seven types of rest, and how believers can step into being fully known by God and others. We also dive into Jesus’ model for rest, the alabaster woman, corporate burnout, and the surprising strength that comes with emotional honesty—for men and women alike. Listen now to be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to live with deeper rest and a more authentic, fully known life. Timed Highlights:  00:08 – Meet Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith 01:32 – 25 years in internal medicine, ER, and ICU 02:46 – The crossroads: leaving traditional medicine 03:46 – Sacred Rest, Jesus, and burnout-proof living 04:43 – COVID, corporate burnout, and global invitations 06:00 – Women of Joy and the Sacred Rest theme 07:27 – From Sacred Rest to Being Fully Known 10:35 – Performance culture vs producing real fruit 13:45 – Beholding, becoming, belonging 16:29 – The cost of not being truly known 19:07 – Emotional rest for men 22:13 – Saundra’s personal rest rhythms 25:44 – The alabaster woman and radical discernment 28:16 – Sharing biblical truth in corporate spaces 31:06 – Serving pregnancy resource centers and fundraising Links: Learn more about GOA Speakers: https://goaspeakers.com [https://goaspeakers.com/]Connect with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: https://ichoosemybestlife.com [https://ichoosemybestlife.com/]

Ginny Owens - Joy In The Dark :: Ep 5 The GOA Speakers Podcast

In this episode of the GOA Speakers Podcast, hosts Abigail Garrett and Greg Oliver sit down with award-winning singer-songwriter, author, and speaker Ginny Owens. Ginny shares her powerful story of losing her sight at age three, navigating bullying and exclusion, and discovering a deep, resilient joy in Christ. She walks us through her journey from aspiring high school music teacher to signed recording artist in Nashville, her EP “Different Kind of Water,” her nonprofit The Asaph Project, and her passion for helping believers find hope in suffering, hear God’s voice above the cultural noise, and live out courageous compassion in a broken world. If you’ve ever wrestled with suffering, purpose, or how to do justice and love mercy in everyday life, this conversation will deeply encourage you. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to GOA Speakers Podcast and Ginny Owens 01:00 – Moving to Nashville, Belmont, and early career dreams 02:15 – Rejected from teaching jobs and invitation to sing at church 03:40 – Demo recordings and first interest from music industry 04:50 – Signing with BMG and Rocketown; debut album background 05:45 – Losing her sight at three and her parents’ response 07:15 – Hardest part of blindness: people’s reactions 08:40 – Mom’s counsel and roots of “Singing in the Dark” 09:25 – Bullying, being left out, and growing compassion for outsiders 11:45 – EP “Different Kind of Water” and the woman at the well 13:20 – Writing songs for both Christian and non-believing friends 14:55 – Debuting new music in Nashville; long creative process 16:55 – Launching The Asaph Project for worship leaders 18:35 – Planning worship liturgy with theological depth 19:15 – Need for new worship themes: work, repentance, justice, forgiveness 20:45 – Why Ginny went to seminary and moved to NYC 21:50 – Studying under Tim Keller and key lessons on culture and identity 25:50 – Keller’s cancer journey and learning to trust God in suffering 27:55 – Speaking, retreats, and opening Scripture with people 29:20 – “Love Be the Loudest”: hearing God above the noise 30:15 – Hope in suffering and the promise of Romans 8:28 33:10 – New book “Courageous Compassion”: doing justice and loving mercy 35:10 – New worship music coming and where to connect with Ginny https://goaspeakers.com/speakers/ginny-owens/ Follow along with the GOA Speakers Podcast at www.goaspeakers.com

Michele Pillar - A Story of Restoration :: Ep 4 GOA Speakers Podcast

Three-time Grammy-nominated artist Michele Pillar joins the GOA Speakers Podcast to share a powerful testimony of faith, trauma, abortion, and deep restoration in Jesus. From the early days of the Jesus Movement and pioneering contemporary Christian music, to a decade-long break from touring and a life-changing dream about the child she aborted, Michele opens up with rare honesty and grace. In this episode, Michele talks about: • Her start in the Jesus Movement and recording on the early Praise albums • Insecurity about songwriting and encouragement for young writers • Life on the road, burnout, and why she took 10 years off from touring • The hidden shame of an abortion at 17 and finally bringing it into the light • How Jesus led her through real, practical restoration over a decade • Her vivid dream of her aborted son and the song that came from it • Serving crisis pregnancy centers and helping women find hope • Her upcoming allegorical novel and a possible film adaptation If you or someone you love has walked through abortion, trauma, or deep shame, this conversation offers a tender and practical picture of how God patiently restores and heals. 00:00 – Intro to the GOA Speakers Podcast 00:07 – Meet Michele Pillar: artist, author, Grammy-nominated singer 01:08 – Early days of the Jesus Movement and Calvary Chapel 03:48 – Christian music takes off and Michele signs with Sparrow 07:52 – Why she walked away from 200 concerts a year for 10 years 09:40 – How she actually did “restoration” with Jesus, step by step 14:02 – Chaotic childhood, alcoholic mom, praying under the bed 16:43 – Pregnant at 17, Roe v. Wade, and the abortion clinic 18:10 – Coming to Christ three weeks after the abortion 19:59 – Why crisis pregnancy centers are so important to her 20:44 – Sharing her story on the Dr. Phil Show and talking about Jesus 22:56 – The dream: a field of children and meeting her son 26:26 – God says, “It’s time for you to be whole” 27:28 – What wholeness in Christ feels like after deep shame 31:33 – The Clothesline Conference: women “hanging shame on the line” 35:20 – Connecting Mary’s unexpected pregnancy to women in crisis today 37:31 – New projects: fantasy allegory, film hopes, and TV series https://goaspeakers.com/speakers/michele-pillar/  Follow along with the GOA Speakers Podcast at www.goaspeakers.com

Matt Hammitt: Lead Me, Bowen’s Miracle, and Fighting for Faith, Family, and Life :: Ep 3 GOA Speakers Podcast

Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and author Matt Hammitt (founding member of Sanctus Real) joins the GOA Speakers Podcast to share his powerful story of music, marriage, and choosing life in the middle of heartbreak. From starting Sanctus Real in a high-school basement to stepping away at the height of success, Matt opens up about the cost of calling, the conversation with his wife that birthed the song Lead Me, and their journey with their son Bowen’s congenital heart disease. He also shares how God led him into pro-life advocacy, fatherhood resources, and a new season of songwriting and speaking. Listen in for an honest look at what it means to lead your family well, cherish the days God gives, and fight for your marriage, your children, and your faith. Timed highlights: 0:00 – Intro: Welcome to the GOA Speakers Podcast   0:30 – Meet Matt Hammitt: Grammy-nominated artist, author, and speaker   1:00 – Starting Sanctus Real at 16 in a basement in Toledo   2:40 – Life on the road: 150–200 dates a year and a growing family at home   4:20 – The tension: Band dream vs. family dream   6:00 – Stepping away from Sanctus Real in 2016 to prioritize family   7:28 – The story behind Lead Me: “We need to talk”   9:00 – Sarah’s words: “I need you to lead me” and the first draft of the song   10:10 – Why good intentions are worthless until they become action   11:36 – Lead Me’s success and the irony of being gone more than ever   12:27 – Bowen’s birth, diagnosis, and first open-heart surgery   13:40 – Number one song on radio and a son fighting for his life   14:51 – Walking with other families who left the hospital empty-handed   16:02 – Bowen today: third surgery, thriving at 15, and living day by day   18:05 – Pressure to end Bowen’s life and choosing to fight for him   19:20 – Becoming an advocate for life and partnering with pregnancy centers   21:57 – Dare To Be A Dad: practical curriculum for fathers in crisis   23:00 – Parenting teens and staying present in a new season   24:10 – Intentional trips with each child and staying connected on the road   25:58 – Days God Gave: the heart behind Matt’s new single   27:00 – Fans’ real-life family videos and the power of legacy   29:01 – Signing with Gotee Records and a new songwriting season   29:40 – Writing for other artists, including the song Testimony   31:20 – Matt’s heart to serve ministries, pro-life events, and men’s conferences   31:50 – 30 years of Sanctus Real and a new song with both lead singers   33:02 – Closing thoughts and how to book Matt Hammitt   Follow Matt: https://goaspeakers.com/speakers/matt-hammitt-booking-agency/ [https://goaspeakers.com/speakers/matt-hammitt-booking-agency/] Follow along with the GOA Speakers Podcast at www.goaspeakers.com