What if the nativity wasn’t sentimental — but courageous, gritty, historical, and deeply human?

In this exclusive interview, Director David L. Cunningham reveals the inspiration, historical accuracy, and behind-the-scenes challenges of Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas — premiering Tuesday, December 9th at 8 PM ET on ABC.

This isn’t the westernized version of Christmas.
This is the REAL world Mary and Joseph walked through — politically dangerous, culturally complex, and full of courage, faith, and hope.

🔥 Key Topics We Discuss:
▪️ Why THIS is the right cultural moment for the story
▪️ How modern audiences misunderstand the nativity
▪️ The courage and faith of Mary and Joseph
▪️ Why the shepherds mattered more than kings
▪️ Why the wise men arrive two years later — and what that means
▪️ Kevin Costner’s personal connection to Christmas
▪️ Filming in Morocco: caves, deserts, storms, and real weather
▪️ Why this Christmas film may inspire people to open their Bible again
▪️ What David hopes happens in your living room on December 9th

📌 About David L. Cunningham
David is an award-winning filmmaker known for creating deeply meaningful stories that connect audiences to themes of courage, faith, and humanity.

📆 Air Date:
December 9 at 8 PM Eastern on ABC

🙏 Watch as a Family
• Let this be the year:
• You see the nativity with fresh eyes
• You understand the cultural and historical context
• You remember the courage of Mary and Joseph
• You appreciate the real meaning of Christmas

👍 Support this film by sharing this interview!

@ABCNetwork @GraceHillMedia @EdenFilms @DavidLCunningham @KevinCostnerModernWest

▶️ Behind the Mike Podcast with Mike Stone
Encouraging, biblical, and culturally relevant conversations for everyday believers.

https://behindthemike.net

#TheFirstChristmas #KevinCostner #ChristmasSpecial #ABC #DavidLCunningham #Nativity #HistoricalBible #BehindTheMike #ChristianPodcast

Timestamped Chapters:
00:00 Intro — Why this film matters
01:15 Why now? The cultural moment for this project
03:14 The biggest misconception about Christmas
05:18 Historical accuracy: wise men two years later
07:20 Kevin Costner’s role and perspective
09:35 Filming moments that moved the director
11:44 What David hopes happens in homes watching ABC
13:41 Final encouragement + air date reminder

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Hypocrisy in the Church has quietly destroyed more faith than atheism, suffering, or doubt.

In this episode of Behind the Mike Podcast, Mike Stone speaks directly to anyone who has been hurt, betrayed, disappointed, or wounded by Christians, pastors, spiritual leaders, or church culture.

If someone’s sin shook your faith… maybe your faith was standing on them instead of Christ.

🔥 In this message, you’ll learn:
• Why hypocrisy hurts so deeply
• What Jesus actually said about hypocrites
• Why spiritual betrayal feels like abandonment
• How to heal from church hurt
• Six biblical steps to rebuild your faith
• Why Christians fail—but Jesus never does

Whether you've been wounded by leaders, friends, family, or the church itself… there is hope.

Don’t walk away from Jesus because of someone who wasn’t acting like Him.

📖 Scripture referenced: Matthew 23, Luke 12:1, Titus 1:16, Hebrews 12:1–2

If this encourages you, please share it with someone who’s struggling.
Keep seeking Truth. Keep walking by faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

#ChurchHurt #Christianity #HypocrisyInTheChurch #Faith #BibleTeaching #BehindTheMikePodcast #mikestone

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Why Hypocrisy Is Destroying Faith
00:56 – When Christians Don’t Act Like Christ
02:10 – Why Hypocrisy Feels Like Betrayal
03:13 – What Jesus Said About Hypocrites
04:11 – Why Spiritual Hurt Cuts So Deep
05:19 – Christians Fail, But Jesus Doesn’t
06:16 – Don’t Walk Away Because of People
07:43 – Abuse, Manipulation, and Real Church Hurt
08:23 – Jesus Faced Betrayal Too
08:55 – Six Biblical Steps to Heal
09:59 – A Final Word to the Wounded
10:37 – Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
11:47 – Final Encouragement & Closing

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Loneliness is quietly becoming one of the biggest struggles inside the church. Many believers feel isolated, unseen, or disconnected—especially heading into the holiday season. In this episode of Behind the Mike Podcast, Mike breaks down why loneliness is so widespread, why Christians rarely admit they feel this way, and how Jesus Himself understands deep isolation.

You’ll hear:
• The difference between loneliness and simply being alone
• Why digital connection is replacing emotional connection
• The three reasons believers hide their loneliness
• How loneliness reshapes identity, hope, and spiritual health
• How Jesus pursued lonely people throughout Scripture
• Practical steps to overcome loneliness—both spiritually and relationally

If you’re feeling lonely today, you’re not weak, broken, or forgotten. Jesus draws close to the lonely—and there is hope, healing, and community waiting for you.

Type “pray for me” in the comments and Mike will pray for you personally.
🙏 You’re not walking through this season alone.

https://behindthemike.net

#LonelinessEpidemic #ChristianLife #FaithPodcast #BehindTheMike #ChristianEncouragement
#EmotionalHealth #HolidaySeasonStruggles #JesusSeesYou #SpiritualGrowth #ChurchCommunity
#ChristianMentalHealth #LonelyButNotAlone #ChristianMotivation #PrayForMe


Chapters:
00:00 — The Holiday Season & Hidden Loneliness
00:31 — Even Jesus Faced Loneliness
01:15 — Overstimulated but Under-Supported
02:21 — Why Churches Struggle With Loneliness
02:59 — 3 Reasons Christians Don’t Admit They’re Lonely
04:28 — How Church Culture Gets Community Wrong
05:00 — What Loneliness Does to Your Soul
06:46 — The Loneliest People Are Often the Most Capable
07:11 — How Jesus Responded to Lonely People
09:35 — How to Heal From Loneliness (Biblical + Practical)
11:18 — Loneliness Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak
12:31 — How Vulnerability Breaks Isolation
13:07 — Final Encouragement & Prayer Invitation

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Modern Christianity is popular…but often hollow.

Jesus offered living water, yet today many believers feel thin, fragile, emotional, and spiritually inconsistent. Why?

In this powerful episode of Behind the Mike Podcast with Mike Stone, we walk boldly into one of the most important conversations happening in the Church today—how our faith culture traded depth for convenience, discipleship for consumption, and transformation for emotional experience.

This message is firm, loving, and grounded in Scripture. If you've ever looked around and wondered, “How did we get here?”—this episode is for you.

🔥 In this episode you’ll learn:
• Why “celebrity pastor culture” is quietly reshaping modern Christianity
• How emotional-only Christianity creates fragile believers
• Why TikTok theology and short-form spirituality are hurting discipleship
• How self-help disguised as Scripture weakens the Gospel
• The difference between consuming Christian content and truly following Jesus
• What Jesus actually says about denying yourself, taking up your cross, and abiding
• The FOUR steps to rebuild a deep, rooted, unshakable faith

📖 Key Scriptures Mentioned:
Jeremiah 17:9 — “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
Luke 9:23 — “Deny yourself…”
John 3:30 — “He must increase, I must decrease.”

#Christianity #FaithPodcast #BehindTheMike

⛓️ Timestamps
00:00 – The problem with modern Christianity
00:38 – How we traded depth for a comfortable imitation
01:45 – Why pastor celebrity culture is damaging faith
03:07 – Emotion vs obedience in spiritual life
04:21 – How TikTok theology is replacing discipleship
05:00 – Christianity becoming self-help instead of Scripture
06:35 – Consumption vs discipleship
07:51 – The gap that creates shallow faith
09:02 – Inspiration vs intimacy
09:34 – What Jesus actually calls His followers to
11:18 – Abiding in Christ during every season
11:55 – 4 steps to rebuild real faith
14:12 – Why maturity can’t be microwaved
14:48 – How to recognize empty wells
15:18 – Hope, renewal, and returning to Jesus

🙏 If this episode challenged you…
Please LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with someone who needs a deeper faith—not just the hype.
Your engagement helps us spread the message of hope in Christ.

Follow me for daily encouragement:
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube Shorts
(@BehindTheMikePodcast)

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Have you ever dealt with someone who twists every story, demands control, and always plays the victim? The world calls it narcissism, but the Bible calls it pride — and it’s a spiritual battle that’s destroying hearts, homes, and churches.

In this powerful episode of Behind The Mike Podcast, Mike Stone uncovers the spirit of narcissism that’s taken root in our culture — and contrasts it with the Spirit of Christ, who calls us to humility, grace, and truth.

You’ll learn:
⚔️ The biblical origins of narcissism (Isaiah 14, Genesis 3, and 2 Timothy 3)
💔 How pride destroys relationships and isolates hearts
💡 The difference between healthy boundaries and self-worship
❤️‍🔥 How to walk in humility and freedom through Jesus Christ

If you’ve been wounded by manipulation, control, or gaslighting — or if you’ve seen pride creeping into your own heart — this message will speak directly to you.

✝️ “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6

#BehindTheMikePodcast #ChristianPodcast #MikeStone #Narcissism #Pride #Humility #Jesus #Faith #BibleTeaching #ChristianLiving #Gaslighting #ToxicPeople #Healing #Grace #Truth #FreedomInChrist #ChristianEncouragement #SpiritualWarfare

Chapters / Timestamps:
00:00 – The rise of narcissism and self-worship
01:44 – How the Bible defines pride and control
03:29 – The pain of manipulation and gaslighting
04:00 – What Scripture says about narcissism (2 Timothy 3)
06:00 – Lucifer’s fall: the origin of pride
08:17 – The Spirit of Christ vs. the spirit of self
10:36 – Humility is warfare, not weakness
11:41 – Narcissism in relationships and the cost of control
14:30 – Finding healing and freedom through surrender
17:00 – Let God defend you
18:20 – Guarding your heart from becoming what hurt you
19:40 – Walking in grace and truth
20:47 – Setting healthy boundaries
22:00 – A prayer for humility and restoration
23:00 – Surrendering pride and finding freedom in Christ
25:00 – Final encouragement: Walk humbly with your God

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Do you ever look back on your life and think, “God could never use me”? Maybe it’s because of something you said, did, or became. But here’s the truth — the Bible isn’t a story of perfect people doing great things for God. It’s a story of a perfect God doing great things through broken people.

In this episode of Behind The Mike Podcast with Mike Stone, Mike shares a powerful message of redemption and grace — showing how God used liars, doubters, adulterers, rebels, and even murderers to accomplish His purposes. From Adam and Eve to Paul, every one of them had a past… and every one of them was still used by God.

If you’ve ever felt unworthy, ashamed, or “too far gone,” this episode will remind you:
💔 Failure isn’t final.
💫 Grace doesn’t just forgive your past — it fuels your purpose.
🙌 God still uses broken people… including you.

Timestamped Chapters:
00:00 – Do you ever feel like God could never use you?
00:27 – The Bible is full of broken people
01:00 – A lineup of the most flawed people in Scripture
02:06 – What if these same people applied for jobs today?
02:43 – God’s standard is different
03:12 – Mike’s personal story of shame and conviction
04:09 – The enemy’s lies about your worth
04:36 – How God redeemed each flawed person
05:57 – Grace fuels your purpose
06:59 – Why we compare ourselves to “spiritual heroes”
07:46 – If sin disqualified us, none of us would be qualified
08:14 – Don’t write yourself off
08:58 – God can use murderers, liars, rebels, and doubters
09:09 – You’re not too broken — failure is not final
09:51 – God still uses broken people

https://behindthemike.net

#GodStillUsesBrokenPeople #ChristianMotivation #BehindTheMikePodcast #FaithOverFailure #GodCanUseYou #ChristianEncouragement #HopeInJesus #GraceAndRedemption #BibleTruth #MikeStonePodcast

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What does the Bible really say about demons, witchcraft, and the occult?
In this powerful episode of Behind the Mike Podcast with Mike Stone, we go beyond Hollywood myths and cultural trends to expose the real spiritual battle happening all around us.

You’ll learn:
• Where demons come from — and what they’re actually capable of
• Why “harmless” occult practices like astrology, crystals, and manifestation are more dangerous than they appear
• How Satan disguises himself as “light” to deceive the world
• Biblical stories that reveal the truth about demonic influence and possession
• How believers can find freedom and stand firm in Christ’s authority

Whether you’ve dabbled in occult practices or simply want to understand what’s happening in our culture, this episode will equip you with truth, courage, and discernment.

👉 Subscribe for more biblical truth and encouragement: YouTube.com/@BehindTheMikePodcast

👉 Connect: BehindTheMike.net

Scriptures referenced: Deuteronomy 18:9–12, Isaiah 8:19, Acts 19:18–19, Mark 5, Acts 16, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 10:20, Colossians 2:15, James 4:7, John 1:5

#Faith #SpiritualWarfare #BiblicalTruth #BehindTheMikePodcast #mikestone

CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro: Why our culture is obsessed with darkness
03:00 – What is the occult? (Biblical definition and warnings)
08:00 – Where demons come from and what they want
14:00 – How the occult rebrands itself today (manifestation, crystals, astrology)
20:00 – Why people are drawn to the occult
26:00 – The real danger of opening spiritual doors
32:00 – How to fight back biblically
37:00 – Hope and victory in Christ
39:30 – Final encouragement and closing

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Do angels really exist? Are they glowing winged beings—or powerful messengers sent by God with purpose?

In this episode of Behind The Mike Podcast, Mike Stone takes you on a biblical deep dive into the unseen world of angels—what Scripture actually says about who they are, what they do, and why they still matter today.

Discover the truth about:
⭐ The creation and purpose of angels
⭐ Michael, Gabriel, and the hierarchy of heaven
⭐ Angelic protection and their role in God’s plan
⭐ Why we should never worship angels
⭐ The fall of Lucifer and one-third of the angels
⭐ What angels will do when Jesus returns

This message will open your eyes to the reality of the spiritual world—and remind you that you are never alone.

👉 Subscribe for more faith-based videos that strengthen your walk with Christ: ​⁠

👉 Watch next: “Demons, the Occult, and Standing Firm in Christ” (coming soon)

📖 Scriptures Mentioned:
Psalm 148:2-5 | Isaiah 6 | Jude 9 | Daniel 10:13 | Genesis 3:24 | Revelation 22:9 | Hebrews 1:14 | Psalm 91 | Matthew 25:31 | Revelation 5

🎙️ Behind The Mike Podcast with Mike Stone — Real stories. Real faith. Real hope.

TIME-STAMPED CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Introduction: The Mystery of Angels
00:27 – Are Angels Real? What the Bible Says
01:00 – The Creation and Purpose of Angels
02:11 – The Hierarchy of Heaven: Michael, Gabriel, and More
03:26 – Angels and Worship: What They Teach Us About God
04:03 – Angels in the Old and New Testament
05:08 – Angels Among Us: Seen and Unseen Protection
06:08 – How Angels Serve Believers
07:19 – True Stories of Angelic Protection
07:53 – The Fall of Lucifer and the Demons
08:58 – Angels in the End Times
09:45 – Why Angels Always Point to Jesus
10:53 – Final Encouragement: You’re Never Alone

#Angels #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #Faith #BehindTheMikePodcast #MikeStone #AngelsInTheBible #Heaven #SpiritualWarfare #Christianity #HopeInChrist #GodsPlan #AngelicProtection #BiblicalTruth

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