The Diamond in the Process: Faith, Failure, and Finding Myself

Why Your Worst Season Might Be Your Greatest Gift | Andrew F Carter

What happens when you do everything right... and life still falls apart? In this episode of The Diamond Podcast, I sit down with Pastor Andrew Carter to talk about foster care, prison, addiction, divorce, masculinity, purpose, faith, relationships, and the moments that nearly made him walk away from God. Andrew shares how he went from a childhood marked by instability and trauma to becoming the founder and lead pastor of Royal City Church. We talk about anger, disappointment, surrender, why success doesn't always satisfy, and how some of life's hardest seasons can become the very thing that shapes your purpose. Whether you're questioning your direction, struggling through a difficult season, navigating singleness, or trying to rebuild after disappointment, this conversation is for you. Topics we cover: * Growing up in foster care * Life in prison * Blaming God after disappointment * Why success didn't satisfy * Masculinity and emotional health * Dating, relationships, and singleness * Purpose through pain * Building Royal City Church * Faith, healing, and personal growth Subscribe and join the Diamond family: ⁠   / @chelsiebaham  ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpTh21dKv-v_8N85Ip94iaA]  Spotify: ⁠https://bit.ly/3MrjiQf⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTVaRE50aGlKcWpjMFJKbGtDRk5ldklNdUlSQXxBQ3Jtc0trUmZLc3ZKdTlzektRdlNoekRrQnUta2dDLWxBc2hQRlFyZHYzbjcwQVB5Z1ZsMW9NUDFhT0haN1N2M2FWOWZGUkp4LV9XZzB2NjMzal9xc0x0Qml1cTB1UzBXTEZtOVlfZ3dyODdGcC1GM1lxeVh1QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3MrjiQf&v=GstynROf5Vo]  Apple Podcast: ⁠https://bit.ly/4riIyXV⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXYxMXpOQU5yemx5djgwOVNIQ2I0Q0tlYnN3UXxBQ3Jtc0tsZXgtUTdrdHlYZklha0JXbTdCYllSdlBtRHdBSHNFMlQxVFVBdE04ZDcteDYtdzFFVThXS1hoZGtuSTFEeUhBU256TEZKRFF6SUJPazNZbFVYSGxEaDJXQ1BKbjZWTVNMeE1SX1Q0a0x4MjlCR0FQZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4riIyXV&v=GstynROf5Vo]  __  * Website: ⁠https://chelsiebaham.com⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbklPdFo4aUxUNmJnU2RiT3hCRmRDUWFKSEpvd3xBQ3Jtc0ttdEUzZWJ0VDdVMDg4eVEteUpaY05ucUNzUXBkZl9WUk5iNHhQRU5zZXpIVnVqall2azEtNlVOQ01uWjJLaWhuX1g1NlFqb2tGMGdsd1VZOUIyaTAtWEl5VGJzRlNLMXEtUGdVNGxWVlJnWHpfUm5Yaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fchelsiebaham.com%2F&v=GstynROf5Vo]  * Chelsie's Instagram | ⁠  https://www.instagram.com/chelsiebaham/?hl=en⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3psWmNfMml0WnJoeENIWXpkUGJPbnREZWtqZ3xBQ3Jtc0trSzZPMUwxZV9pblZwbXZMeGV3VzExZlQ1NUg3dVFZZHIxN3ZZZGZIM09SM052bWJqT015b0FGSFpRY1VPVXo5Zlp0YWhJYlRjSk9jTGw5ODNkdFVMU25RU1Bhb2FmSlhUeHpZeUFaTndDS2ExZWcwWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fchelsiebaham%2F&v=GstynROf5Vo]  * Chelsie's TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@chelsiebaham?lang=en  * Andrew's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/andrewfcarter/  * Andrews TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewfcarter * Andrews Website | https://www.andrewfcarter.com Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524976/support]

Why Can't Christians Take a Joke? Chaz Smith Doesn't Hold Back

Chaz Smith, the Vine legend behind Water Malone , sits down with Chelsie Baham on The Diamond Podcast to talk about the unplanned path that took him from a New Jersey basketball court to millions of followers online. We get into his NBA dad, the terrifying car ride where he quit basketball, why he doesn't like most people, the church's complicated relationship with comedy, and what Christian dating culture gets so wrong. Plus: bad haircuts, wild DMs, and whether God actually has a sense of humor. Timecodes: 2:15 “Water Malone” & going viral 8:40 Leaving basketball + family pressure 18:30 Faith, humor & church culture 32:10 Why people get offended 45:20 Dating & “God told me…” conversations 58:00 People-pleasing & boundaries 1:10:00 Who Chaz really is off-camera Subscribe and join the Diamond family:  Spotify: https://bit.ly/3MrjiQf [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk5YcG1xalMwZjBMbVdZNU5vS3prN01MaTRrZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttNGt2YlNPWjBUckhIQ2pkOTBHOFVhaEFva1k2aGNPSnY1aUE4N25CTzNpQ2w0NXM5RWxycEdxMjNjUDJIVU5XelZFZzhwbW5wZW15Z0EzaHlGZFNOMnJoZm9hRF9yVWh4NW9rdzJMcXdBR3NUU3R0QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3MrjiQf&v=GstynROf5Vo] Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/4riIyXV [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1JKb1I3ZEZNcG8zNUsxTk5mWjJ6REJ3VDIyd3xBQ3Jtc0tuNFVET09sbUNRUlBoamZSMWRBRVdoNjhBZkJDWHBJYmF1NlllMjV2bUEwZ1FiYURGdzdLU1QyWWtLYmNyejJqNVJxNXZiY1EwaktXY21Mc1FzMGJCRXNCMGtIVHI1UWhSVkVlTUtrR01OenA5WmJZWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4riIyXV&v=GstynROf5Vo] New episodes drop every other Tuesday. __ Website: https://chelsiebaham.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVdZckFDQW11UzlKQmhDZGJyWFZLZGQ4N2JmUXxBQ3Jtc0trSTc0aWl0UlROTVdWS0xBMXphZEFwOUp4UHNveHIxd1NKRU9GQ3NZZGJlUENScVJ6dnJrR1djYXZ6ck15SzhkZlJxRWdnRnBITUZWNzVYVGdUd216N0FJaEg1OWFLMm9NMnhGRDd2X2pxRnNCazJvaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fchelsiebaham.com%2F&v=GstynROf5Vo] Chelsie's Instagram |   / chelsiebaham  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbERPWmNDV3pYRWp2YTNCRHdTZ2hUcy1Oam1UQXxBQ3Jtc0tsUGdqUi1YeFJTSmIxN29oSDlsY1FTRm40ZUU3RDRqRnphR3dLdVlic3hsdlFzNFV5YUM2LVM0OWYteUZDSDd4VVc0SzFlYlBhM3RFNE1GaXVBcDN5elFiSmFNN0V3aVZiZWgzVUxLaDJVcUVQMk1LYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fchelsiebaham%2F&v=GstynROf5Vo] Chelsie's TikTok |   / ucpth21dkv-v_8n85ip94iaa  [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkJ1d1NjeGhIUGw5TFlJa01pNnpXN1g1eVZqZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsVFdiZHlpNlVnMWtFT054UmYxcUVZODhnVkUtWktKb0pTaFBhQ2FGSkc4clI4YktEMExjaU1rZFMzTkV1UmVoWnRadzZMX1cwOG02ZmQzODB4REZQSHU5ZnlQZXc2YXhMVFpVejd0UkhvdkFuUVN6MA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40UCpTh21dKv-v_8N85Ip94iaA&v=GstynROf5Vo]  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524976/support]

Expect the Unexpected: A Conversation with Julie Chen Moonves

Most people know Julie Chen Moonves as the face of Big Brother: composed, precise, unshakeable. What they don't know is the woman who almost turned down the job, survived a brutal first season where the critics hated her and her own colleagues thought she was a sellout, and quietly held it together with a bottle of scotch and a Sharpie marking how much she was allowed to drink that night. This conversation goes beneath the surface. Chelsie sits down with Julie to talk about what it actually costs to last 25+ years in a business that was never designed for you as a woman, as a Chinese American, as someone of faith in an industry where saying the name "Jesus" will empty a room. Julie doesn't flinch. She never has. This episode is for anyone who has been told the room isn't built for them. Anyone who's had to choose between who they are and what the industry wants them to be. Anyone who's been pressing forward on little sleep, little affirmation, and a faith that's still being formed. The diamond doesn't start beautiful. That's the whole point. Timestamps: 2:10 – How Julie Got the Big Brother Job (at 29 Years Old) 17:00 – Endurance: Running on Little Sleep Between Big Brother & the * 25:00 – Being a Chinese American Woman in Television — Breaking Barriers 40:15 – Three Minorities on One Morning Show — Unheard Of 52:30 – Going Public with Her Faith in Hollywood 1:04:00 – Rapid Fire: Most Chaotic Live Moments, Dream Guests & More 1:16:00 – What She Wants to Be Remembered For Subscribe and join the Diamond family:    / @chelsiebaham  [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpTh21dKv-v_8N85Ip94iaA/podcasts/podcasts] Spotify: https://bit.ly/3MrjiQfApple [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa05oaXNKb2hmeTVlaEZnNUduMFdzZ01LSnNfZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuSXRIR25FRTRrbEpUOG9Rc0hxaVpUeV8tc01IRFF4S1pyelVtX19UQ1BRY20zZ1VrVEJJYzJZNkM4eUM3Tm1aTndLZDZmUHlkWklrcHI1MVgxcllkRHQtYkVMS1BYY0RmVnItaHlySmxVSlo1d0VEQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3MrjiQfApple&v=wSahxrNUfVw] Podcast: https://bit.ly/4riIyXV [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0xuYnN2Uk1QVHUzejd2RnNQOUFDek5MeEMzZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuME5wSW5sU3Z0S1gtcmpibGNrakZLRnpvUzhDX1NHeFBEb1BNYTVsRG1aellNbHFvSmdMVWpoc2ZJcXFqT2V5clhmaTVvRTZWTXZLbTBXVU9ZeXVGTmVqUDN6RHNZQ3psbUh5QWZnS3h2M2dFX2lSTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F4riIyXV&v=wSahxrNUfVw] New episodes drop every other Tuesday. __ Website: https://chelsiebaham.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWRqUVIzTmVWRnZkTHFQRkp6WGFhNVAzS3JWZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsTzliOW1KWV9vT0twVy1iZEhzSnJPWXJMR2Q0QTFXR2dIT0VxcXNzZGw1UzlnMWJCcldQX3c4QVpTaU5tUGJQVFlqVDlDc3NJaldtNTYzTXZybUJ2OVZ1MkJVQmM0S1FUbUNIeHVFb1JKWi1lNWw4OA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fchelsiebaham.com%2F&v=wSahxrNUfVw] Chelsie's Instagram: @chelsiebaham Chelsie's TikTok: @chelsiebaham Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524976/support]

The Diamond in the Process: Faith, Failure, and Finding Myself

What happens when your best friends flip the script and put YOU in the hot seat? In this episode, Chelsie hands over the mic to Lonnie and Sydney,  the people who've known her since before the platforms, before Big Brother, before the world had any opinions. This isn't your typical interview. It's unfiltered, unscripted, and unapologetically honest. They dive into the questions most people avoid: What does it take to stay obedient when it costs you everything? How do you rebuild your identity after losing it all? What happens when the church you gave everything to walks away? Chelsie opens up about the dark valleys that preceded the victory. The suicidal thoughts at 23. The 102-pound frame. The five-year NDA that kept her silent. The loneliness that comes with always being misunderstood. This one's for anyone in the fire right now, wondering if there's purpose in the pain. Because sometimes the process isn't punishment,  it's preparation for what's on the other side. The diamond was always there. It just needed refining. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro: Friends Take Over the Podcast 1:03 - Early Signs of Bold Obedience 2:28 - The Missions Conference That Changed Everything 6:14 - The Loneliness of Pivoting Against the Grain 8:41 - Being Misunderstood: Living as the "Black Sheep" 12:11 - Diving Into Ministry: First Time Preaching in a Prison at 17 19:39 - Staying Too Long: The Church That Became Everything 27:27 - Getting Let Go: Losing Everything in 48 Hours 33:14 - The Call to Niecy Nash-Betts: "What's Next?" 37:07 - Big Brother as a Broken Person: Showing Up Fractured on National TV 40:51 - The Weight of Representing Christianity on Reality TV 49:06 - The Heart of The Diamond Podcast: Highlighting the Process, Not Just the Prize 52:28 - Dream Guests: Michael B. Jordan, Issa Rae, Kehlani & More — Subscribe and join the Diamond family: https://www.youtube.com/@chelsiebaham/podcasts Spotify: https://bit.ly/3MrjiQf Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/4riIyXV New episodes drop every other Tuesday. — Website: https://chelsiebaham.com Chelsie's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/chelsiebaham/ Chelsie's TikTok |  https://www.tiktok.com/@chelsiebaham Lonnie's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/lonlegend/ Sydney's Instagram |  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524976/support]

The Criticism, The Harassment, The Truth | Taylor Hale Holds Nothing Back

What happens when people decide who you are before you even get a chance to speak for yourself?What happens after the win? After the applause? In this episode, Chelsie sits down with Taylor Hale for one of her most honest conversations yet. From being placed on a pedestal to being picked apart in public, Taylor opens up about the pressure of fame, the criticism that followed her before, during, and after reality TV, and the emotional labor of having to “deconstruct” the version of herself that people projected onto her. They talk about identity, womanhood, relationships, public perception, and the tension between what people expect from powerful women and what it actually takes to survive in the spotlight. Taylor also shares deeply personal parts of her story, including how she navigated public scrutiny, the pressure of putting her relationship first, and the experience of sexual harassment during her time in the Miss USA world. This conversation is raw, nuanced, and necessary. Because visibility is one thing. Being understood is another. _  Subscribe and join the Diamond family: https://www.youtube.com/@chelsiebaham/podcasts Spotify: https://bit.ly/3MrjiQf Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/4riIyXV New episodes drop every other Tuesday. __  Website: https://chelsiebaham.com Chelsie's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/chelsiebaham/ Chelsie's TikTok |  https://www.tiktok.com/@chelsiebaham Taylor's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/taylorhale/ Taylor's TikTok |  https://www.tiktok.com/@thetaylorhale  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524976/support]