How the Bible App Vision Began

Emily asks Bobby about YouVersion's origin, and he explains his airport security-line insight and the early website-to-mobile pivot.

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Transcript

Episode notes

In this episode of the RELEVANT Podcast Impact Conversation Series, we sit down with two leaders who have shaped the faith lives of billions.

First, adventurer and global TV icon Bear Grylls opens up about how the wilderness taught him about spiritual survival. It’s one of Bear’s most personal and honest conversations ever — covering doubt, faith, courage and why he believes Jesus’ life is the greatest adventure of all.

Then, YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald joins us fresh off a historic milestone: one billion downloads of the Bible App. He shares the wild origin story of YouVersion, how God exceeded every expectation, how to steward faith in a tech-driven world and why Gen Z is turning to Scripture like never before.

This episode is part of our special Impact Series sponsored by World Vision, whose community-focused work is changing lives around the globe. Learn more and get involved at WorldVision.org/RELEVANT.

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Introduction from Cameron Strang

02:19 — Emily Brown sits down with Bear Grylls

02:30 — Writing Jesus’ story as a thriller (and why no one had done it)

05:13 — How his new book began in the middle of the jungle

07:33 — Physical survival and spiritual survival: where they intersect

09:22 — Faith, doubt, fear and the courage to keep going

11:19 — What surprised Bear most after rereading the Bible three times

13:23 — Working with The Chosen and making “Chosen in the Wild”

16:07 — Why faith is breaking through in entertainment right now

18:20 — The first time Bear spoke publicly about faith (yes, including Obama)

20:07 — Cameron wraps Bear’s segment and introduces Bobby Gruenewald of YouVersion