Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos joins Ben Higgins on "If You Can Hear Me" for a candid and moving conversation about navigating grief, rediscovering love, and searching for a new sense of normal after profound loss. Together, they explore questions of faith, family, and the longing for clarity when life keeps moving forward. Joan shares what keeps her grounded, the ongoing challenges of piecing together happiness after losing her husband, and why her journey on The Golden Bachelor was about more than just finding love. If you've ever felt unsettled in seasons of change, this episode is for you.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Seeking Deeper Connections
00:29 Joan’s Cry for Her Family
01:13 Life After Loss
01:55 Defining a New Normal
02:19 The Role of Faith
02:37 Grieving and Moving Forward
03:28 Searching for Answers
03:57 Holding Onto Faith
04:22 Loving Again, Feeling Unsettled
05:20 Integrating New Love
05:32 Wrestling With Unanswered Prayers
06:05 When God Feels Silent
06:33 Family, Blessings, and Longing
07:09 Sitting With Unsettled Feelings
07:53 Sharing Hope Beyond Love

Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos joins Ben Higgins on "If You Can Hear Me" for a candid and moving conversation about navigating grief, rediscovering love, and searching for a new sense of normal after profound loss. Together, they explore questions of faith, family, and the longing for clarity when life keeps moving forward. Joan shares what keeps her grounded, the ongoing challenges of piecing together happiness after losing her husband, and why her journey on The Golden Bachelor was about more than just finding love. If you've ever felt unsettled in seasons of change, this episode is for you.
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Seeking Deeper Connections 00:29 Joan&rsquo;s Cry for Her Family 01:13 Life After Loss 01:55 Defining a New Normal 02:19 The Role of Faith 02:37 Grieving and Moving Forward 03:28 Searching for Answers 03:57 Holding Onto Faith 04:22 Loving Again, Feeling Unsettled 05:20 Integrating New Love 05:32 Wrestling With Unanswered Prayers 06:05 When God Feels Silent 06:33 Family, Blessings, and Longing 07:09 Sitting With Unsettled Feelings 07:53 Sharing Hope Beyond Love

We’re all looking for something.

 

In If You Can Hear Me, Ben Higgins sits down with people from all walks of life—celebrities, thinkers, everyday folks—to talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope.

 

These are honest conversations about the big stuff: identity, loss, purpose, peace, faith, and everything in between. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out.

 

If you’ve ever felt like there must be more to the story—this show is for you.

We&rsquo;re all looking for something.
&nbsp;
In If You Can Hear Me, Ben Higgins sits down with people from all walks of life&mdash;celebrities, thinkers, everyday folks&mdash;to talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope.
&nbsp;
These are honest conversations about the big stuff: identity, loss, purpose, peace, faith, and everything in between. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out.
&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt like there must be more to the story&mdash;this show is for you.

If You Can Hear Me

Finding a New Normal After Loss: Navigating Faith, Family, and Change w/ Joan Vassos 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fb7185a5-24c0-4fe8-88a6-b3ed001bf9cf/transcript

Alana Springsteen grew up in a house where prayer was the answer to everything—including an eating disorder no one talked about out loud.

In this conversation, the country artist opens up about her new album *I Hope This Helps* and the years of quiet work behind it: the breakup that broke her trust in herself, the chameleon habits she picked up as a kid, and the phone call from her 85-year-old pastor grandfather questioning why she'd see a psychiatrist instead of just praying about it.

We talk about:
- Moving to Nashville at 14 with no plan B
- Writing "Love Me Anyway" as a letter to herself, her family, and God
- The moment her mom asked, "Is that your story or mine?"
- Why questions deepened her faith instead of dismantling it
- What it looks like to ask for help in a community that calls it a lack of faith
- Living in the messy middle of a healing journey with no finish line

For anyone who's ever felt like the kid looking through the window at a party they weren't invited to—this one's for you.

Listen to *I Hope This Helps* wherever you stream music.

TIMESTAMPS

00:08 Meet Alana: from Pungo to Nashville
02:39 Has success changed her definition of why
04:36 Finding her "why" beyond fame
07:25 The relationship that shattered her trust
08:41 Writing "Love Me Anyway" as a confession
11:55 Growing up as the family caretaker
15:44 Playing "Note to Self" for her mom
20:29 Faith built on fear vs. transformed faith
26:14 The eating disorder no one talked about
28:42 Her grandfather's reaction to therapy
33:18 Why the album is titled "I Hope This Helps"
37:26 The loneliness of choosing a different path

Alana Springsteen grew up in a house where prayer was the answer to everything&mdash;including an eating disorder no one talked about out loud.
In this conversation, the country artist opens up about her new album *I Hope This Helps* and the years of quiet work behind it: the breakup that broke her trust in herself, the chameleon habits she picked up as a kid, and the phone call from her 85-year-old pastor grandfather questioning why she'd see a psychiatrist instead of just praying about it.
We talk about: - Moving to Nashville at 14 with no plan B - Writing "Love Me Anyway" as a letter to herself, her family, and God - The moment her mom asked, "Is that your story or mine?" - Why questions deepened her faith instead of dismantling it - What it looks like to ask for help in a community that calls it a lack of faith - Living in the messy middle of a healing journey with no finish line
For anyone who's ever felt like the kid looking through the window at a party they weren't invited to&mdash;this one's for you.
Listen to *I Hope This Helps* wherever you stream music.
TIMESTAMPS
00:08 Meet Alana: from Pungo to Nashville 02:39 Has success changed her definition of why 04:36 Finding her "why" beyond fame 07:25 The relationship that shattered her trust 08:41 Writing "Love Me Anyway" as a confession 11:55 Growing up as the family caretaker 15:44 Playing "Note to Self" for her mom 20:29 Faith built on fear vs. transformed faith 26:14 The eating disorder no one talked about 28:42 Her grandfather's reaction to therapy 33:18 Why the album is titled "I Hope This Helps" 37:26 The loneliness of choosing a different path

Love Me Anyway — Writing the Song I Was Afraid to Play My Mom, with Alana Springsteen

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ad5f28b9-e10b-4e4c-ae4e-b473003ef00f/transcript

What happens when a kid from the Netherlands grows up to write the origin story of America's first president?

In this episode, screenwriter Diederik Hoogstraten joins Ben to talk about Young Washington — the Wonder Project film releasing July 3rd to mark America's 250th — and why an immigrant might be uniquely positioned to remind us what this country actually is.

We get into:

- Growing up progressive in 1980s Holland and how Family Ties (yes, really) planted the seeds
- Becoming a U.S. citizen in 2019 and what most Americans miss about their own country
- The Wonder Project, House of David, and building a studio for the audience Hollywood forgot
- Writing George Washington from age 11 to 22 — the failures, the loss, the overbearing mother
- Why failure shaped Washington's character (and what that means for the rest of us)
- A Native American chief, a battlefield, and the moment Washington's purpose became clear

A conversation about country, craft, and the kind of leader formed in the quiet years.

Young Washington hits theaters July 3rd.

CHAPTERS:
00:48 Welcome & guest intro
02:18 Why an immigrant celebrates America 250
03:51 Family Ties and discovering America
06:28 World Cup as a unifying moment
12:48 What the Wonder Project is
17:15 Faith-based or family-friendly?
22:19 The loneliness of screenwriting
27:10 Why focus on young Washington
30:34 Balancing history with creative license
36:36 How failure shapes leaders
43:05 What viewers should take away
48:09 How the project changed him

What happens when a kid from the Netherlands grows up to write the origin story of America's first president?
In this episode, screenwriter Diederik Hoogstraten joins Ben to talk about Young Washington &mdash; the Wonder Project film releasing July 3rd to mark America's 250th &mdash; and why an immigrant might be uniquely positioned to remind us what this country actually is.
We get into:
- Growing up progressive in 1980s Holland and how Family Ties (yes, really) planted the seeds - Becoming a U.S. citizen in 2019 and what most Americans miss about their own country - The Wonder Project, House of David, and building a studio for the audience Hollywood forgot - Writing George Washington from age 11 to 22 &mdash; the failures, the loss, the overbearing mother - Why failure shaped Washington's character (and what that means for the rest of us) - A Native American chief, a battlefield, and the moment Washington's purpose became clear
A conversation about country, craft, and the kind of leader formed in the quiet years.
Young Washington hits theaters July 3rd.
CHAPTERS: 00:48 Welcome &amp; guest intro 02:18 Why an immigrant celebrates America 250 03:51 Family Ties and discovering America 06:28 World Cup as a unifying moment 12:48 What the Wonder Project is 17:15 Faith-based or family-friendly? 22:19 The loneliness of screenwriting 27:10 Why focus on young Washington 30:34 Balancing history with creative license 36:36 How failure shapes leaders 43:05 What viewers should take away 48:09 How the project changed him

Young Washington: The Origin Story of the Original American, with Diederik Hoogstraten

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/96f16a67-03b3-4328-9c1e-b46f01205597/transcript

In this conversation, the former White House Press Secretary, Fox News anchor, and bestselling author Dana Perino joins Ben Higgins to talk about the unglamorous middle of an ambitious life: the quarter-life crisis, the yeses that change everything, and why worry might be the most wasted emotion we have.

We cover:
- The moment President Bush asked her "What's wrong?" — and changed her career
- How she said yes to becoming Press Secretary in a single second
- Why mentorship works better as conversation than contract
- The "epidemic of interruption" and what listening actually requires
- Her new novel Purple State, and why she wrote a political book without politics
- Faith, humility, and praying silently for strangers on the subway

Dana's perspective is grounded, specific, and refreshingly free of partisan noise. If you're in a season of figuring out what's next — or wondering if you're behind — this one's worth your time.

Dana's new book "Purple State" is available wherever books are sold!

Subscribe for more conversations like this one.

CHAPTERS
00:32 Welcome to If You Can Hear Me
01:11 Why mentorship matters now
05:35 Bush's "what's the worst that could happen"
08:11 The yes that made her press secretary
14:41 Staying excited in a new chapter
19:51 Meeting Peter on a plane
23:16 Humility vs. imposter syndrome
30:06 Inside Purple State's characters
34:39 The epidemic of interruption
40:24 Don't worry your 20s away
44:06 Silent prayers on the subway
49:53 Who Purple State is really for

In this conversation, the former White House Press Secretary, Fox News anchor, and bestselling author Dana Perino joins Ben Higgins to talk about the unglamorous middle of an ambitious life: the quarter-life crisis, the yeses that change everything, and why worry might be the most wasted emotion we have.
We cover: - The moment President Bush asked her "What's wrong?" &mdash; and changed her career - How she said yes to becoming Press Secretary in a single second - Why mentorship works better as conversation than contract - The "epidemic of interruption" and what listening actually requires - Her new novel Purple State, and why she wrote a political book without politics - Faith, humility, and praying silently for strangers on the subway
Dana's perspective is grounded, specific, and refreshingly free of partisan noise. If you're in a season of figuring out what's next &mdash; or wondering if you're behind &mdash; this one's worth your time.
Dana's new book "Purple State" is available wherever books are sold!
Subscribe for more conversations like this one.
CHAPTERS 00:32 Welcome to If You Can Hear Me 01:11 Why mentorship matters now 05:35 Bush's "what's the worst that could happen" 08:11 The yes that made her press secretary 14:41 Staying excited in a new chapter 19:51 Meeting Peter on a plane 23:16 Humility vs. imposter syndrome 30:06 Inside Purple State's characters 34:39 The epidemic of interruption 40:24 Don't worry your 20s away 44:06 Silent prayers on the subway 49:53 Who Purple State is really for

Say Yes Before You're Ready, Listen Before You Speak, with Dana Perino

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a732822f-c878-4eac-bd9b-b46a004da867/transcript

Finding a New Normal After Loss: Navigating Faith, Family, and Change w/ Joan Vassos

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