The Russell Moore Show

Charlie Peacock on Music, Meaning, and Letting Go of Power

May 14, 2025

Join Grammy Award–winning producer and artist Charlie Peacock as he shares insights from his memoir, Roots & Rhythm. He explores the concept of God’s will, the intersection of fame and creativity, and the importance of grace over karma. Listen to amusing anecdotes about the Christian music scene, including a near fistfight over Amy Grant. Peacock reflects on fatherhood, navigating identity, and the necessity of embracing failure for growth. This conversation offers a thoughtful take on faith and art in a modern world.

47:34

Episode guests

Charlie Peacock

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The podcast explores the complex relationship between faith and artistic expression, emphasizing the importance of authenticity beyond religious labels.

It highlights the necessity of embracing failure as a pivotal element in an artist's journey towards personal and professional growth.

Deep dives

The Journey of Artistic Identity

The discussion emphasizes the complex relationship between personal identity and artistic expression, particularly in regard to what it means to be a Christian artist. A metaphorical conflict emerges from an anecdote about an early school fight over Amy Grant's crossover into mainstream music, illustrating the tension between religious labeling and broader artistic freedoms. This conflict highlights the challenge artists face in navigating their faith within the marketplace while maintaining authenticity in their work. The podcast delves into how these experiences reflect larger questions about acceptance, the boundaries of 'Christian' art, and the evolving understanding of spiritual identity.

Intro

5min

Navigating Identity Through Music

16min

Grace as Liberation from the Burden of Karma

3min

Unexpected Connections in Music and Meaning

2min

Embracing Failure for Growth

5min

Circles of Affirmation in Music

17min

Is God’s will for your life more of a dot or a circle?

That’s one of the questions addressed by Grammy Award–winning producer and artist Charlie Peacock, whose new memoir Roots & Rhythm explores what it means to find one’s calling in life, how to heal from the past, and how to give up the quest for holding on to power.

This conversation reveals at least one middle-school-era debate over what counts as “Christian music” (spoiler: there was almost a fistfight over Amy Grant), and they explore deeper questions about fame, ambition, and why some artists burn out while others grow deeper with time.

Peacock shares stories behind producing music for Amy Grant, Switchfoot, and The Civil Wars—and what he’s learned from the visible economies of success and the hidden “Great Economy” about which Wendell Berry wrote.

You’ll hear thoughtful conversation on everything from Zen Buddhism and Jack Kerouac to AI and the future of music. Along the way, Peacock reflects on a note found after his mother’s death, a formative encounter with Kierkegaard, and what it means to live with grace as “an antidote to karma.” Peacock and Moore also talk about Frederick Buechner and Merle Haggard, as well as fatherhood, how to find a “circle of affirmation,” and why failing is as important as succeeding.

If you’re curious about how art and faith intersect in an age of algorithms and ambition, this conversation offers a human and hopeful perspective.

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: