Max McNown learned guitar in 2022. Three years later, he's selling out venues and releasing his next album.

In this conversation, Max sits down with Ben Higgins to talk about the story behind his rise — and why he doesn't credit it to ambition.

We get into:
- The guitar his dad handed him as he drove off to California at 21
- His brother Brock's 5-year battle with lymphoma and what it reshaped in him
- The Edmonton show where he realized fans were there for *his* music
- His grandfather Dale, forgiveness, and what it means to have a "servant heart"
- Staying grounded when the career is moving faster than you are
- Why he prays before every show — and what that prayer actually sounds like
- His new album *Leave On a Light* (out September 25) and the people it's written for

Max is one of the fastest-growing names in music right now, but the through-line of this conversation isn't the numbers. It's gratitude, family, and the quiet decisions that keep a person whole.

Listen to *Leave On a Light* when it drops September 25.

Timestamps:
00:47 Welcome to If You Can Hear Me
02:09 The guitar that started it all
05:59 Rising fast, one step at a time
08:27 Edmonton: the turning point
10:56 Street performing and first fans
13:22 Providence in a father's gift
16:26 Grandpa Dale's wisdom
19:03 Forgiveness as foundation
22:38 Staying grounded through fame
27:44 Music isn't everything
29:37 Praying before every show
32:00 Living one day at a time
35:18 What Brock's cancer taught him
38:17 Leave On a Light — the new album

Max McNown learned guitar in 2022. Three years later, he's selling out venues and releasing his next album.
In this conversation, Max sits down with Ben Higgins to talk about the story behind his rise &mdash; and why he doesn't credit it to ambition.
We get into: - The guitar his dad handed him as he drove off to California at 21 - His brother Brock's 5-year battle with lymphoma and what it reshaped in him - The Edmonton show where he realized fans were there for *his* music - His grandfather Dale, forgiveness, and what it means to have a "servant heart" - Staying grounded when the career is moving faster than you are - Why he prays before every show &mdash; and what that prayer actually sounds like - His new album *Leave On a Light* (out September 25) and the people it's written for
Max is one of the fastest-growing names in music right now, but the through-line of this conversation isn't the numbers. It's gratitude, family, and the quiet decisions that keep a person whole.
Listen to *Leave On a Light* when it drops September 25.
Timestamps: 00:47 Welcome to If You Can Hear Me 02:09 The guitar that started it all 05:59 Rising fast, one step at a time 08:27 Edmonton: the turning point 10:56 Street performing and first fans 13:22 Providence in a father's gift 16:26 Grandpa Dale's wisdom 19:03 Forgiveness as foundation 22:38 Staying grounded through fame 27:44 Music isn't everything 29:37 Praying before every show 32:00 Living one day at a time 35:18 What Brock's cancer taught him 38:17 Leave On a Light &mdash; the new album

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

Max McNown: I Climb One Step, Not the Whole Staircase

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9b1fe00f-91ab-4748-a2bb-b49c015fbdd6/transcript