Jay Pharoah — SNL alum, impressionist, and star of Fox's Quiz With Balls — sits down with Ben Higgins to talk about the moment he stopped running.

In 2023, surrounded by everything he thought he wanted, Jay heard a voice tell him to leave the room. What happened next changed his life.

In this conversation:
- Why fame and access left him emptier, not fuller
- The night he heard "meet me halfway, and I'll carry you the rest"
- The addictions he walked away from — and how his father unknowingly echoed the same message
- The blue Bible story: a prayer he never spoke out loud, answered by a stranger in Ohio
- Why he's cutting language from his stand-up and what he's building toward next
- Near-death experiences, the prodigal son, and the freedom of surrender

Jay is honest about the version of himself he used to be — and clear-eyed about who God is shaping him into now. If you've ever wondered whether transformation is real, this one's worth your time.

Subscribe for more conversations like this.

Timestamps
00:47 Why fame doesn't fulfill
02:44 Meeting Jay Pharoah
04:41 Growing up in church, road with Charlie Murphy
06:27 SNL and losing his way
08:00 The voice in the room: meet me halfway
11:30 Getting rid of the room, the Quiz with Balls offer
14:37 Why God forgives murderers and thieves
17:57 Using the platform as an example
22:09 What you have to give up
25:00 Cutting the swearing from his set
28:21 Freedom, not prison
29:23 The blue Bible story
37:58 The old version isn't wasted
39:12 Becoming a rebel for Christ
43:28 Stay in the fight

Jay Pharoah &mdash; SNL alum, impressionist, and star of Fox's Quiz With Balls &mdash; sits down with Ben Higgins to talk about the moment he stopped running.
In 2023, surrounded by everything he thought he wanted, Jay heard a voice tell him to leave the room. What happened next changed his life.
In this conversation: - Why fame and access left him emptier, not fuller - The night he heard "meet me halfway, and I'll carry you the rest" - The addictions he walked away from &mdash; and how his father unknowingly echoed the same message - The blue Bible story: a prayer he never spoke out loud, answered by a stranger in Ohio - Why he's cutting language from his stand-up and what he's building toward next - Near-death experiences, the prodigal son, and the freedom of surrender
Jay is honest about the version of himself he used to be &mdash; and clear-eyed about who God is shaping him into now. If you've ever wondered whether transformation is real, this one's worth your time.
Subscribe for more conversations like this.
Timestamps 00:47 Why fame doesn't fulfill 02:44 Meeting Jay Pharoah 04:41 Growing up in church, road with Charlie Murphy 06:27 SNL and losing his way 08:00 The voice in the room: meet me halfway 11:30 Getting rid of the room, the Quiz with Balls offer 14:37 Why God forgives murderers and thieves 17:57 Using the platform as an example 22:09 What you have to give up 25:00 Cutting the swearing from his set 28:21 Freedom, not prison 29:23 The blue Bible story 37:58 The old version isn't wasted 39:12 Becoming a rebel for Christ 43:28 Stay in the fight

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

Jay Pharoah: SNL, Addiction, and the Prodigal Son

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ebbf8b71-6333-41ca-afe7-b4b80136fdc2/transcript