
We’re happy to be speaking today with musical artist extraordinaire Kevin Olusola; welcome to our humble pages, Kevin! Before we kick that proverbial can too far down the dirt road, how has your 2022 been treating you?
2022 has been quite alright! The biggest highlight for me this year has been seeing my one-year-old daughter Kaia walking all over our house. She just decided one morning that it was time to walk, and she hasn’t stopped since. My wife and I have been chasing her around the house, as I’m sure you can imagine.
Congratulations are very much in order for your new motivational faith podcast which is entitled Imagine Faith Talk! How did this podcast come into being?
Thank you! The idea for the podcast was born out of a Friday night Bible study I started in Los Angeles in 2018. That was pre-COVID so it was in-person, and the study centered around understanding the biblical keys to success. I met my co-host Donovan Dee Donnell through that Bible study, and over dinner at a vegan restaurant he and I became fast friends. Once the pandemic hit in 2020, we decided to take our Bible study to Zoom with Donovan and I leading it. That’s when Kor Element, our show’s producer and a friend that I met in Beijing over 10 years ago (wild, huh!), reached out to me. He was seeking Jesus. He started attending the Zoom Bible study, and soon after that he suggested to Donovan and me that our discussions should be a podcast. We prayed on it and heard a resounding “YES” from the Lord.
How long from inception until actual reality did it take to get Imagine Faith Talk up and running?
It took almost a year-and-a-half. The Bible study gave us a great foundation for what we wanted to do, but learning how to translate the message into podcast format took many trial runs and lots of prayer. It was in that development process that God helped us find amazing partners to support us in getting it off the ground, allowing Donovan and me to focus solely on the content. It’s truly incredible to have finally launched and hear how people have been touched by it thus far.
Do you consider Imagine Faith Talk a natural extension from the music you’re helping to create in the group Pentatonix?
In some ways, yes, but maybe not how you’d expect. Being in Pentatonix taught me to how to maximize my uniqueness and embrace it. I also learned how to navigate being “in the world, but not of it” while working in an industry that can challenge your values and beliefs. God has taught me a lot about what it means to be like a “Daniel” in the music industry. So for anyone who knows me, the theme of this podcast is very on brand for me.
Who would benefit by listening to Imagine Faith Talk? Who is its target audience?
I think our target audience are Christians in their 20s-30s who are figuring out how to optimize their professional and personal performance, as well as how to utilize their faith in God for success in every area of their life. The Bible has so many practical keys to topics like time management, avoiding distraction, being present, finding clarity etc. and they’re relevant to everyone. Whether you’re a parent or a student, a creative or an academic, a seasoned entrepreneur or a young professional. To see your calling from God’s perspective helps us put everything into alignment so we can walk confidently in Him.
Why is Imagine Faith Talk more important now than ever? What makes it so relevant and timely?
Because of social media, I’ve found it so much easier to get caught up in the comparison game by thinking that 1) you have to conform to what everyone else is doing to be seen, or 2) you’re not living life to your fullest like the friend or celebrity you just scrolled past on your feed. We started this podcast to help people focus on the specific race God has uniquely qualified each and everyone of us to run. Plus, even though the internet has made it much easier to hone in on your niche and make something worthwhile, it also brings more distractions than ever before. The biblical keys we talk about on the podcast help us stay fully committed and connected to purpose.
Your co-host for Imagine Faith Talk is Donovan Dee Donnell. Can you talk to us about what Donovan brings to the Imagine Faith Talk table?
Oh man, Donovan Dee Donnell. He brings such a fun energy, a light, and a testimony like no one else. To see what God has done to bring him from being an ex-male exotic dancer to an author, life coach, and entrepreneur is nothing short of extraordinary. Each time he speaks, every word and thought carries so much weight. He’s incredibly impactful and always leaves me with some food for thought. I’m so thankful God brought us together to share His love and light in this specific expression of faith and love.
What do you hope fans walk away feeling after listening to Imagine Faith Talk?
I hope they feel loved on, cared for, and can walk away with a paradigm shift and a practical next step in optimizing their performance and faith walk.
What advice would you give a listener to Imagine Faith Talk who had difficulty in reconciling the secular with the religious?
Wow…this is such a good question! To me, my secular work is the divine work. We’re all called to the Great Commission; go and make disciples of the nations. To do that, we have to infiltrate culture and subvert it for Kingdom culture, like Daniel did in Babylon. I know that it was God’s will for me to be in the secular music industry. If God’s will is for me to be in the industry, then I know I can trust Him to give me what I need to accomplish His mission. I have to meditate on the Word day and night like Joshua 1 says, because it’s the only way I can be successful.
While preparing Imagine Faith Talk, have you made any discoveries about yourself that have surprised you?
The one thing that surprised me was that once we started this venture, I didn’t realize how much I’d love serving through this medium. It’s significant to me especially because I was always the person who didn’t want to serve in church. But in my adult life God took me on a journey to show me how to serve in my own unconventional way that shines light on Him. Once I realized that…I was on fire for this project!
Can fans look forward to an extended run for Imagine Faith Talk?
That’s the plan, God willing!
Imagine Faith Talk is launching on the That Sounds Fun Network platform. What made That Sounds Fun Network the perfect home for Imagine Faith Talk?
I think it’s our aligned vision of bringing amazing content to the world from a Christian perspective. Annie is such a creative individual who believed in what we were doing from the get-go. It’s been so easy to talk with her and brainstorm ideas. She’s wonderful. I hope you all listen to her podcasts. We love the TSF crew!
Who is your producer on Imagine Faith Talk and what does the give and take process look like when putting together a new episode?
Kor Element is our producer. As I mentioned before, he’s the one who I met in China 10 years ago who planted the initial seed for the podcast. Our process looks like this: before recording an episode, Donovan and I discuss the topic and verses in Bible study, making sure in prayer that God has given us a message to speak to our audience and it’s in line with the theme of our season. After we record the episode, Kor will edit it. I’m thankful for him; he’s so dedicated to making sure the vision comes to life!
Final – SILLY! – Question: What one item is always in your refrigerator?
Hah! I love this question — oat milk!