Send us a text

This week on Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff and Carollynn sit down with Stephen Bargatze — master magician, comedian, and one of Jeff’s longtime friends — for a conversation full of laughs, unbelievable stories, and deep reflections on faith and perseverance.

Stephen shares how a childhood injury, a rebellious streak, and an unexpected encounter with magic shaped the course of his life and career. From hilarious on-stage disasters to moments of grace that changed everything, this episode is packed with comedy, inspiration, and a few behind-the-scenes secrets you won’t want to miss.

🎙️ In This Episode:
✅ How Stephen's childhood accident and family life pushed him toward performing
✅ The unexpected start of his magic career (hint: it wasn’t glamorous)
✅ Wild stories from touring and performing at schools, churches, and big stages
✅ Honest conversations about faith, healing, and staying grounded in an unpredictable world
✅ Jeff and Stephen swap favorite on-stage mishaps

A funny, heartwarming episode about small beginnings, second chances, and the magic that happens when you refuse to quit.

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

Actress, writer, and faith-filled firecracker Candace Kirkpatrick joins Jeff and Carollynn for a wildly funny, deeply reflective, and utterly inspiring conversation that spans everything from playing football on camera to being raised by a Pepsi-loving Elvis impersonator turned pastor.

From stories on set with Jeff filming My Seven Grandmas, to her journey through acting school in NYC, to the very real tensions of holding faith and career in the same hand—this episode is equal parts joy and soul-searching.

Candace opens up about her upbringing, the challenge of balancing purpose with paycheck, and the spiritual battles that come with choosing obedience over compromise in Hollywood. Oh—and wait for the moment when she drops that her dad was literally Elvis.

🎙️ In This Episode:

✅ Acting with integrity in a tough industry
✅ Why Jeff almost couldn’t "bury his dog" one more time on set
✅ The life-changing moment Candace said no to a role for her faith
✅ Jeff’s dream to star in a Western (hint: someone send this to Taylor Sheridan)
✅ The struggle—and strength—of knowing whose you are
✅ Finding grace in the grind, whether it’s comedy, casting, or career choices

If you’ve ever wondered whether God cares about the little dreams in your heart—this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen now, laugh hard, cry a little, and be reminded that your story’s not done yet.

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett joins Jeff and Carollynn to talk about politics, faith, and how to lead with grace in a divided world. From social media pitfalls to unexpected Cinnabon campaign strategies, this one’s full of laughs, wisdom, and heart.

What does a Secretary of State actually do—and how does someone stay grounded in faith while navigating politics in a polarized world?

In this episode of Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff and Carollynn sit down with Tre Hargett, Tennessee’s Secretary of State, for a candid and often hilarious conversation about public service, political division, leadership, and grace under fire.

From debates over LLC letters and Cinnabon-style campaign strategies, to deeply reflective conversations about God, marriage, forgiveness, and burnout, Tre opens up in ways you rarely see from elected officials.

🗳️ You’ll hear:

• What it’s really like to be elected by legislators (not voters)
• How social media is distorting modern politics
• The importance of holding your tongue (and when he didn’t)
• Why his darkest season strengthened his faith
• How grace, empathy, and a sharp wit have helped him endure 5 terms in office
• Why “God told me to run” doesn’t always mean what people think

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

What happens when a preacher’s kid with a secret becomes a voice for thousands of men seeking freedom from addiction and shame?

In this episode of Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff and Carollynn sit down with Nate Larkin — speaker, author, and founder of the Samson Society. Nate shares the raw, redemptive, and even humorous story of how his double life as a pastor and sex addict came crashing down… and how that wreckage became the foundation of a worldwide brotherhood.

You’ll hear about:

✅The turning point that led Nate to confess everything to his wife

✅How he went from isolation to deep male friendship

✅Why churches often struggle to talk about the things that matter most

✅And how the Samson Society is helping thousands of men find hope and healing

It’s a vulnerable and powerful conversation about faith, addiction, marriage, and the messy, beautiful path to redemption.

🛑 Warning: This episode contains frank discussions about sex addiction and pornography. It’s not graphic, but it is honest. Listener discretion advised.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share if this hits home—or if you know someone who needs to hear it.

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

In this episode of Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff and Carollynn welcome Michael DelGiorno, a seasoned talk radio host with a four-decade career, a deep love for bulldogs and lizards, and a knack for making serious topics entertaining.

Michael shares stories from his 41 years in radio, including his time working alongside broadcasting giants like Glenn Beck and Neil Boortz. The conversation veers into unexpected (and hilarious) territories—his first and last stand-up comedy gig, why bulldogs cost him thousands in vet bills, and his secret obsession with pet chameleons.

🎙️ Topics Covered:
✅ The evolution of talk radio and Michael’s journey in the industry
✅ How faith and radio intersect in today’s culture
✅ His one and only experience bombing on stage as a stand-up comic
✅ The bizarre world of exotic pet lovers (yes, he drove his chameleon around town)
✅ Why bulldogs are both the best and worst dogs to own
✅ An off-the-rails discussion on Cybertrucks, eyebrows, and camp horror stories

This episode is fun, unpredictable, and full of unexpected wisdom, proving that even a talk radio veteran can be thrown off track when Carollynn fixates on his eyebrows.

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

In the very first episode of Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff Allen and Carollynn Xavier introduce the podcast no one asked for—but somehow, we all needed. With zero retirement savings, a lot of comedy mileage, and a millennial co-host to help him decode life, Jeff kicks things off with honesty, heart, and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor.

Carollynn shares her wildly unexpected road from atheist Instagram comic to seminary student and surprise Tennessean—while Jeff opens up about addiction, bombing on stage, surviving marriage, and the joy of connecting with an audience that’s grown up laughing at (and with) him.

🎙️ Topics Covered:
✅ Jeff’s early days in comedy... and close-up magic
✅ How bombing on stage (twice) led him to a 40-year career
✅ Carollynn’s wild ride from Waffle House to salvation
✅ Marriage, midlife, and the truth about roast chickens
✅ Sobriety, sanctification, and the pain of personal growth
✅ The strange and beautiful friendship that launched a podcast

This pilot episode is honest, hilarious, and deeply human—a heartfelt intro to a show about faith, failure, family, and the funny stuff that keeps us going.

🔥 Listen now and subscribe!

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

In this powerful episode of Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff and Carollynn welcome comedian Reno Collier for an unforgettable conversation about hitting rock bottom, rebuilding life, and why cheating at golf says more about you than you think.

Reno opens up about his battle with addiction, the wake-up call that changed everything, and how his journey led him to a renewed purpose. From laughing through the struggles of sobriety to reflecting on life’s unexpected turns, Reno shares raw and hilarious insights into family, career, and the road to redemption.

🎙️ Topics Covered:
✅ The turning point that made him choose sobriety
✅ Golf as a test of character (and the wildest cheater stories)
✅ Hard truths, second chances, and finding peace
✅ Why Larry the Cable Guy almost ruined his handicap
✅ The power of laughter in healing

Jeff, Carollynn, and Reno bring a perfect mix of deep conversation, absurd humor, and unexpected wisdom—all wrapped in Reno’s signature storytelling style.

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support

Send us a text

In this episode of Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, Jeff Allen and co-host Carollynn Xavier sit down with writer, producer, and storyteller RJ Moeller to talk about the wild world of filmmaking, faith, and the unexpected paths life takes us on.

RJ shares his journey from Hollywood to Nashville, the challenges of independent film production, and the power of storytelling in shifting culture. They dive into his latest projects with Angel Studios, including Live Not By Lies, a gripping documentary exploring the dangers of totalitarianism through the stories of those who survived it.

🎙️ Topics Covered:
✅ The entertainment industry’s shake-up and what it means for faith-based content
✅ The reality of producing independent films outside Hollywood
✅ The journey of Live Not By Lies and why its message is so timely
✅ How storytelling is changing in comedy, faith, and politics
✅ Deep thoughts on red dye, Twizzlers, and Chinese food cravings

Jeff, Carollynn, and RJ keep the conversation hilarious, insightful, and a little chaotic, covering everything from film industry politics to dodging Hollywood’s nonsense and even a few conspiracy theories.

Join us for Jeff Allen’s Celebrity Golf Classic, a two-day event packed with comedy, camaraderie, and a whole lot of competition, all for a great cause. June 29th - 30th at Westhaven Golf Club

Your ticket includes: Dinner reception + comedy show and full tournament play. Open to golfers of all skill levels and ages.

Bring your swing, your sense of humor, and your heart for a good cause.

To find out more, head over to jeffallencomedy.com

Support the show

If you love Who Gave Jeff Allen a Podcast?, consider supporting the show! Your contributions help us keep the mics on, the jokes rolling, and the guests coming.

With your support, we can:
✅ Bring on more amazing guests
✅ Improve production quality (so Jeff stops blaming the tech guy)
✅ Keep delivering the humor, insight, and occasional deep thoughts you love

Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate our listeners who partner with us to make this podcast possible.

💡 Want to chip in? Click below to support the show!
👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2448062/support