Special Guests

  • Eloise Dejoria — Former Playboy Playmate, Model, Actress, Philanthropist
    Eloise’s lifestyle has been featured on 20/20 with Barbara Walters, “E” Entertainment, and in many national and international publications. She is widely recognized as the spokes model for Paul Mitchell Hair care products in television and print ads. Texas native Eloise Dejoria made her film debut in Songwriter, starring Willie Nelson. Other feature credits include Weekend at Bernie’s, Grand Champion, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Wall Street (Money Never Sleeps), and Wild Hearts.   Her latest picture, When Angels Sing, based on Turk Pipkin’s classic Christmas story, stars Texas greats Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Marcia Ball, Kris Kristofferson, and Harry Connick, Jr. (from next-door Louisiana). 
    *ANGELS SING tells the story of Michael Walker (Harry Connick, Jr.) who wished every day could be Christmas. That is until a tragic accident crushed his holiday spirit.  Thirty years later, Michael still can’t muster any joy for the holidays, despite encouragement from his playful wife (Connie Britton – Nashville, Friday Night Lights) and well-intentioned parents (Kris Kristofferson and Fionnula Flanagan). But when his young son (Chandler Canterbury) faces a tragedy, Michael needs to make amends with his past.  A mysterious man named Nick (Willie Nelson) gives Michael a gift and instills in him the courage to find the joy that he lost. 
    www.angelssingmovie.com
    www.eloisedejoria.com
    Listen ← 26m:53s – 12.31 MB → Download

  • John Elefante — Former Frontman of Kansas
      Singer/songwriter and producer extraordinaire John Elefante began his musical career in 1981. After lead singer Steve Walsh left the rock group Kansas, Elefante auditioned for the spot and was chosen. In addition to landing the job, he saw all four of his demo tape songs make the band's next album. During his four years with the group, Elefante recorded two albums, Vinyl Confessions and Drastic Measures, and spent three years touring. In his years since Kansas, Elefante and his brother, Dino, have produced numerous albums. The brothers also co-owned the Nashville-based recording studio The Sound Kitchen which had become the largest recording studio in the Southeastern United States. Artists included Alabama, Amy Grant, Barry Manilow, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, George Strait, Gretchen Wilson, Jewel, Jimmy Buffett, Julio Iglesias, Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Michael W Smith, Peter Cetera, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Third Day, Trisha Yearwood and Vince Gill. Along with wearing the hat of producer, John Elefante has written numerous songs and recorded 4 solo albums including Windows of Heaven, Corridors, Defying Gravity and his latest On My Way to The Sun. As an artist, his credits include writing and singing lead vocals on three multi-platinum albums; as producer, his albums have earned numerous Dove Awards, 4 Grammy Awards (most recently in 2000) and 10 Grammy nominations. As of 2009, Elefante has produced and/or performed on more than 100 major label albums.
    www.johnelefante.com
    Listen ← 25m:28s – 14.58 MB → Download

  • Michael Sweet — Frontman For STRYPER Former Member of BOSTON
    For almost 30 years, Christian rock pioneer Michael Sweet has broken down walls and seen unprecedented success bringing his music to the masses. Best known as the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Stryper, his role in that groundbreaking band only scratches the surface of this multi-talented artist. Michael, in addition to his very visible role in Stryper, is also a Nashville songwriter, producer, acclaimed solo artist, and in 2008 was even a member of the legendary band Boston. Stryper, under the leadership of Michael Sweet, has sold over 8 million records worldwide, received a Grammy nomination, charted countless times on the Billboard charts, and won a Dove Award. The future remains bright for a man who has endured heartbreaking tribulations throughout his life and career, including the 2009 passing of his wife of more than 22 years.
    *“No More Hell to Pay” is Stryper’s eighth original studio album and is on sale now!
    www.michaelsweet.com
    Listen ← 18m:54s – 8.66 MB → Download

  • Holly Burkhalter — Author Of Good God, Lousy World, & Me: The Improbable Journey of a Human Rights Activist from Unbelief to Faith
    For over thirty years, Holly Burkhalter has worked as an international rights advocate for victims of genocide, rape, and injustice. Throughout most of her career, the heartbreak she encountered around the world—and in her own life—had convinced her that there was no such thing as a loving God. How could there be? If God  was there, he should be charged as a war criminal for tolerating atrocities against the young, the poor, and the vulnerable. Then, Holly discovered a new truth: God was there—in the grief, in the violence, in the questions. And God was good. It was the greatest, hardest, most radiant surprise of her life. This is her story.
    *Holly Burkhalter is the Vice President of Government Relations & Advocacy of International Justice Mission. IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems. Prior to joining IJM, Ms. Burkhalter was the U.S. Policy Director of Physicians for Human Rights, a Boston-based human rights organization specializing in medical, scientific and forensic investigations of violations of internationally recognized human rights. Prior to joining Physicians for Human Rights, she was affiliated with Human Rights Watch as that organization's Advocacy Director and director of its Washington office. Before joining Human Rights Watch, Ms. Burkhalter staffed the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations and worked for Representative (now Senator) Tom Harkin, D-IA. Ms. Burkhalter was appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate to be a member of the board of the U.S. Institute for Peace, on which she served from 2001-2008.
    www.convergentbooks.com/author/holly-burkhalter

LIVE! on TDMS - Devoted Souly to the Art of Music

  • Sarah Hiltz
    Sarah Hiltz is emerging as a singularly talented Canadian songwriter with a voice all her own. Echoes of Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell and Feist ring out faintly through the structure of Sarah’s artistry in a modern blend of folk and jazz she’s been perfecting over the last 10+ years of performing. Living up to a long tradition of folk music, Sarah has been praised for her ability to tell a story through song. It is with this ability that she bridges the gap between folk and jazz, telling stories not just with her lyrics but also through wordless sound. Staying true to the improvisational spirit of jazz, Sarah works to make each live performance a unique and memorable experience for her audiences, delving ever deeper into that magic-something that makes live music matter. In 2010, her efforts were recognized when she was nominated for Best Folk Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. And this year, the world is currently savouring her latest morsel of musical magic – Till The Sun Falls
    www.sarahhiltz.com
    Listen ← 39m:47s – 22.77 MB → Download

God Blogger

  • Ann Voskamp
    Thousands of readers have already fallen in love with Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts, and this Christmas, Ann will help readers celebrate the lineage and the majesty of God’s greatest gift—Jesus Christ. In what is sure to become an instant holiday classic, Voskamp reaches back into the pages of the Old Testament to explore the lineage of Jesus via the advent tradition of “The Jesse Tree.” Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, The Greatest Gift retraces the epic pageantry of mankind, from Adam to the Messiah, with each day’s reading pointing to the coming promise of Christ. Sure to become a holiday staple in every Christian home, The Greatest Gift is the perfect gift for the holidays and a timeless reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
    www.aholyexperience.com

Talkback, etc.

  • The Pub Crawl — This week on The Pub Crawl...
    “Drew & His Mates” crack open a few - topics! Current affairs, pop culture, even touchy-feely-relational stuff! Listen in OR call and join us, as we crawl from topic to topic! (Got a topic you want the gang from the pub to crack open? Click here)

    A “poor” friend asked for money the other day. Apparently, the Bible says that when someone asks you for something, you're supposed to give even more than what they asked for. The friend took the money and bought drugs. Later that night she died from an overdose. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night?
      Time Magazine has chosen the Pope as Person Of The Year. REALLY? They chose someone who has simply been doing his job? Doesn't this suggest that the Catholic church is in pretty rough shape if they're leader get's an award for... being like Christ? Or maybe it means that there just weren't any other candidates as qualified? (Malala Yousafzaic who was shot by the Taliban for going to school, must have been overlooked because surely you can't get a Nobel Peace Prize AND Person Of The Year! Can you?)

  • W.here's T.he F.aith?
    Join Drew and various religion reporters from an assortment of news outlets, as they catch up on happenings in the world of Religion & Faith & Cults (Oh My!) Today's W.T.F. Guest: Manya Brachear Pashman – Religion Reporter for The Chicago Tribune
    www.chicagotribune.com/manya