Hope Dealers with Scott Smith & Taylor Dempsey

Forgiveness is revolutionary—and for KING + COUNTRY have been fighting for eight years to bring that idea to the screen.
In this episode, Joel and Luke Smallbone open up about the making of Drummer Boy, the Revolutionary War musical built around brothers on opposite sides of the battlefield, hidden wounds, and the kind of freedom that starts inward before it ever becomes outward.

What began as a film about history became something far more personal: a story shaped by failure, family tension, and faith. Joel and Luke reveal
how a Revolutionary War story became a mirror for forgiveness, what it meant to collaborate with Jessica Simpson on a song that stewards her story well, and the surprising way failure has redirected their music, films, and faith.

If you need a reminder that your failures are not the end of your story, this episode is for you. And if you’re ready for a Christmas film that aims straight at the heart, the hands, and the soul, press play now.

Note:
"First Gift of Christmas" Promo is valid for 72 hours following episode release.

What happens when a 35-year Disney veteran decides the most important thing in his life is not success, but faith? Rick Dempsey reveals the inside story of protecting Disney Character Voices for decades, then using that same global expertise to help bring The Chosen to the world in hundreds of languages.

From Mickey and Minnie to The Lion King, Aladdin, Toy Story, and Tarzan, Rick shares how iconic voices are cast, the tension of being a believer in Hollywood, and the surprising doors God opened when he was finally ready to move on from Disney.

Rick also shares unforgettable stories of moments with Phil Collins, Cary Elwes, Lucy Liu, and Steven Curtis Chapman, and the ripple effect of family, adoption, and a church-centered life. If you care about creativity, faith, family entertainment, or how gospel-driven media can actually scale around the world, this conversation is for you.

She survived childhood violence, a traumatic brain injury, and the kind of grief that could have ended her story. Instead, nine-time American Ninja Warrior Competitor Maggi Thorne turned survival into a calling and became living proof that hope is something you build one impossible step at a time.

Maggi opens up about the moment she first realized there might be hope, the night she accepted Christ, and how a teacher became the kind of person who could change a life simply by noticing it. She also shares what happened when a brutal American Ninja Warrior injury completely disrupted her life.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing rarely happens in a straight line, obedience can be difficult when no one else understands it, and the hardest seasons of life can become the very places where God meets us.

Watch Maggi’s full finals run on American Ninja Warrior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ3kXrwEFfQ

Hollywood is comfortable talking about angels, demons, and the supernatural - but are Christians actually equipped to respond?

Filmmaker and journalist Billy Hallowell sits down for one of the most honest conversations yet about spiritual warfare, deliverance, miracles, and the hidden battle most believers never realize they're in.
Billy shares the personal story behind his own faith journey, why writing Playing with Fire forced him to confront evil differently, and how making Investigating the Supernatural became far more than a documentary project.

If you’ve ever wondered whether miracles still happen, whether demons are real, or how to make sense of the supernatural without drifting into hype or fear, this episode will challenge what you think you know.

How do you fight for children, families, and the overlooked when the issues are this hard to hear?

Tim Tebow reveals the faith-fueled mission that has taken him far beyond football and into one of the darkest fights in the world.

From his own miraculous birth story to the moment God turned his athletic platform into a call to action, Tim shares why he refuses to stay on the sidelines while children are abused, exploited, and ignored. He opens up about the conviction that changed everything, the cost of living for a game versus living for eternity, and why the church can no longer afford to look away.

Tim also shares the origin of Night to Shine, the shocking church gap it exposed, and the personal ways this mission has shaped his family, his marriage, and his view of what Jesus calls us to do for the least, the last, and the lost.

This is essential listening if you want to hear a story of conviction, compassion, and action that stretches from the football field to the front lines of rescue. Tim doesn’t just talk about hope - he lives it.

Resources:

• Crisis Hotline: 741741 text or call
• Timtebowfoundation.org
• 40 Days to Look Again: Ever feel like your worth depends on how well you perform? In 40 Days to Look Again, Tim Tebow shares a 40-day devotional on finding confidence in who God created you to be. Get your copy today: https://amzn.to/3U339UL

You might not know this story about Ben Fuller...from almost dying as a teenager and having an addiction for years he still found himself chasing approval onstage. Until something shifted...

In this episode, Ben Fuller shares the raw story behind the songs we know well: From his attempt to take his own life, to drugs and alcohol as a way to numb emptiness, to the moment an invite to church changed everything. You’ll hear how Ben went from a dairy farm in Vermont to playing bars in Nashville, why hiding in plain sight can be more dangerous than rock bottom, and the exact moment he said, “Jesus, will you help me?”

If you’re carrying pain, trying to outrun emptiness, or wondering whether God can actually use your worst chapter, this episode is for you. Ben’s story is proof that redemption is real, hope is not cliché, and sometimes the most powerful prayer you can pray is the shortest one: help.

What is a "Hope Dealer?"

In this first episode of Hope Dealers, Scott Smith and Taylor Dempsey share the heart behind the show and the stories that shaped them and brought them here today. If you want to hear about childhood healing and conversion moments, having pizza with Harrison Ford, and finding out what Forrest Gump and Tarzan have in common... you're in the right place.

Plus - a sneak peak at whats to come this season!

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Hope Dealers is where real stories meet real hope.

Hosted by Scott Smith & Taylor Dempsey, Hope Dealers brings you real conversations with entertainers, athletes, artists, leaders, and everyday people whose lives have been changed by believing that their is MORE to the story than just what they see. Through honest stories of faith, struggle, breakthrough, purpose, and transformation, you'll discover how Jesus shows up-even in the moments that feel hopeless.

Every person has a story, which means every one of us is a Hope Dealer.

Tune in each Monday for honest and raw conversations that will motivate you, challenge your perspective, and remind you that there is always hope.

Share your story. Deal hope.