Kirk Franklin, the story he's never shared until now, the 20x Grammy winner bares his soul on childhood pain, absent fathers, fame under fire, faith in the storm, and the road to healing. Shocking truths, deep redemption, and the power of forgiveness.

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Jul 1, 2025

Join Grammy-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin as he shares his poignant journey of childhood trauma and faith. He reveals the struggles of growing up without a father and the emotional toll of reconciliation. With humor and vulnerability, Kirk discusses how music serves as a healing vessel and the importance of authenticity in spirituality. He opens up about navigating personal challenges, the scars of his upbringing, and how he aims to break the cycle of pain for his own children, emphasizing the power of forgiveness and redemption.

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ANECDOTE

Jesus as a Childhood Friend

Kirk Franklin found companionship in Jesus as a childhood imaginary friend due to loneliness.
His early bond with Jesus shaped his life before formal Christian commitment.

INSIGHT

Attachment Disorder Roots

Kirk Franklin connects his struggle forming relationships to never having laid at his mother's breast.
This early disconnect caused attachment disorders impacting his love for family and wife.

ANECDOTE

Biological Father Discovery

Kirk learned his biological father was different from the man he believed to be his father.
This revelation brought emotional complexity because he lacked family experience to navigate it.

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Join us for a transformative discussion with Grammy-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin, whose musical genius and unwavering faith have reshaped contemporary Christian culture.

In one of the most raw and revealing Pivot Podcasts to date, Kirk sits down with Ryan, Channing and Fred to open up about the deeply personal battles he's faced behind the spotlight. Known for his musical influence, Kirk shows a different side here—one marked by pain, healing, and redemption. With honesty, humor, and deep vulnerability, he talks about what it really takes to heal—when the cameras are off and the crowd is gone. The guys are able to get him to let his guard down, turn heavy moments light and provide a safe space as the conversation transcends into identity, family, and finding purpose not just through success, but through surrender.

In this moving episode, Kirk opens up about:

The art of writing hope: Exploring how music becomes a vessel for healing—both for himself and the world.
Faith through the fire: Navigating personal struggles, spiritual seasons, and finding renewal in the midst of chaos.
The scars of a turbulent upbringing – and how trauma shaped his views on love, trust, and self-worth.
Faith when it’s messy – how he wrestled with God during his darkest moments and found peace on the other side.
Reuniting with the father he never knew – and the emotional toll of reconciling decades of abandonment.
Fatherhood and forgiveness – breaking the cycle for his own children and choosing healing over bitterness.
Leading with authenticity: What it means to shepherd a movement when you're also the one being led.

With profound vulnerability and trademark energy, Kirk Franklin shares stories of redemption, breakthrough, and creative inspiration. This episode offers a blueprint for staying rooted in purpose, pursuing excellence, and never feeling to flawed to forgive and move forward. Comment and let us know your thoughts on this episode!

Thank you to our friends and partners at KaChava for sponsoring this episode. Go to ⁠⁠https://kachava.com⁠⁠ and use code PIVOT for 15% off your next order for a limited time.

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