The Listening Porch

Music Before It Was An Industry | The Listening Porch with Ray Hughes | Episode 4 Oct 22, 2025

In this episode of The Listening Porch, Ray Hughes explores what happens when music moves from being lived to being consumed.

Drawing from his book 107 Things I Forgot to Say About Worship, Creativity, and Music, Ray unpacks how the invention of technology—from the microphone to the radio—shifted music from porches and fields to studios and stages.

What began as a divine sound born from place and purpose became a business built on access and control. But somewhere in that evolution lies an invitation: to recover the song that’s still inside us.

Topics include:

- Why “listening to music” and “being a song” are two different things

- How the music industry evolved from access to control

- Biblical roots of music as sound, place, and presence

- The prophetic role of musicians, troubadours, and poets through history

- Why technology redefined what worship sounds like

- How to find your own “porch” again in a digital world

Referenced Scripture & Themes:

Psalm 33:3 — “Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

1 Samuel 10:5 — “You will meet a procession of prophets... playing lyres, tambourines, flutes, and harps before them.”

2 Chronicles 5:13–14 — The unity of musicians bringing down glory.

Ephesians 5:19 — “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”

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Join Selah Creatives: Get access to all of Ray’s online courses, teachings, monthly live Zoom gatherings, and a community of over 100 like-spirited creatives → selahonline.teachable.com/p/selah-creatives

Support Ray on Patreon: Receive his personal poetry, prose, and creative writings not shared anywhere else → patreon.com/rayhughes

Write a Song Only God Will Hear | The Listening Porch with Ray Hughes | Episode 3 Oct 15, 2025

In this episode of The Listening Porch, Ray and Eric talk about the kind of creativity that no one else will ever see — songs, poems, prayers, and moments meant only for God.

They start with one of the short reflections from 107 Things I Forgot to Say — “Write a song today that you don’t want anyone to hear but God.” From there, the conversation unfolds into the tension between honesty and performance, filters and freedom, and how humility often shows up in the cracks of our lives.

Highlights:

Why the most honest songs might be the ones no one else hears
How to remove creative filters by writing “only for God”
The cracks of humility where God truly meets us
David, Psalm 51, and the difference between Saul’s hardened heart and David’s broken one
How hidden worship restores authenticity and intimacy with God

Music: The Universal Language | The Listening Porch with Ray Hughes | Episode 2 Oct 08, 2025

Starting from a passage in Ray’s book 107 Things I Forgot to Say, Ray and Eric explore how music becomes the language of those who laugh, live, long, and love. The conversation moves from laughter as warfare and healing, to music as the breath of life, to songs that hold the ache of longing, to melodies born of love itself.

This episode touches everything from Psalm 2’s laughter of God, to the cry in Appalachian bluegrass, to Korean worship melodies that carry generational pain and hope. It’s a rich, wandering conversation about sound, spirit, and the way music reveals God in the hidden corners of the human heart.

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Join Selah Creatives: Get access to all of Ray’s online courses, teachings, monthly live Zoom gatherings, and a community of over 100 like-spirited creatives → selahonline.teachable.com/p/selah-creatives

Support Ray on Patreon: Receive his personal poetry, prose, and creative writings not shared anywhere else → patreon.com/rayhughes

Visit Ray's Website: RayHughes.org

Songs that Changed History | The Listening Porch with Ray Hughes | Episode 1 Oct 01, 2025

In this first episode of The Listening Porch with Ray Hughes, we explore a question that has echoed through history: If the church changes the way it understands music and worship, can it change the world?

From Luther’s hymns to the songs of the Wesley brothers, every reformation has carried a sound. Ray unpacks how music, creativity, and worship not only shape the church but ripple outward into culture itself. Join us on the porch as we rediscover the power of song to awaken hearts, reform communities, and carry the purposes of God into the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why every revival and reformation has a sound

• How music has historically shaped faith and culture

• Worship as more than music — a language of heaven

• The role of creativity and wonder in carrying God’s purposes

• Why the church’s song matters for the world’s future

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Join Selah Creatives: Get access to all of Ray’s online courses, teachings, monthly live Zoom gatherings, and a community of over 100 like-spirited creatives → selahonline.teachable.com/p/selah-creatives

Support Ray on Patreon: Receive his personal poetry, prose, and creative writings not shared anywhere else → patreon.com/rayhughes

Visit Ray's Website: RayHughes.org

Deep Roots & Tangled Limbs P6: Heirlooms and Inheritance Apr 26, 2024

Storytellers are the guardians of memories, Ray tells us.

In this episode, Ray shares some of the memories of his early years and how the stories of our lives give shape to the people we become.

These formative memories of family history encourage us that our memories, even the darker, painful ones can become a wellspring of hope and redemption for generations to come.

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

Check out Stephen's Makers & Mystics podcast here.

Note: This conversation was recorded in 2022.

*This Podcast Series is produced by Brightbell Creative.

Deep Roots & Tangled Limbs P5: Places of Encounter Mar 01, 2024

The Places we love have a profound ability to awaken wonder in our hearts and fill us with a sense of purpose and destiny.

In this episode, Ray shares about his love of Wales, Scotland and Ireland a how a prophetic encounter set him on a lifelong course of discovering how deeply these lands were woven into his heart.

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

Note: This conversation was recorded in 2022.

*This Podcast Series is produced by Brightbell Creative.

Deep Roots & Tangled Limbs P4: Music, Misfits & The Life of King David Feb 23, 2024

In this episode, Ray Hughes shares from his lifelong study of King David and shows how this misfit shepherd boy’s unwavering pursuit of God's presence shaped his legacy as a poet, worship leader, and king.

Ray emphasizes the timeless relevance of David's story, highlighting how his longing for God expressed through music continues to inspire generations and shape the language of worship today.

If you'd like to dive deeper into Ray's teachings on worship, creativity and the life of King David, you can sign up for his online courses here.

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

You can learn more about Stephen Roach's creative work and his upcoming creative arts event at The Breath and The Clay

You can listen to Stephen's art and faith podcast here.

Note: This conversation was recorded in 2022.

*This Podcast Series is produced by Brightbell Creative.

Deep Roots & Tangled Limbs P3: The Generational Power of Storytelling Feb 16, 2024

In today's conversation, Ray shares about the generational power of storytelling. This episode spans everything from the importance of paying attention to learning the difference between a distraction and a daydream.

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

You can connect with Stephen's work at The Breath and The Clay creative arts gathering and his art and faith podcast here.

Note: This conversation was recorded in 2022.

*This Podcast Series is produced by Brightbell Creative.

Deep Roots & Tangled Limbs P2: Dialect and Destiny Feb 09, 2024

In this conversation,Stephen and Ray are continuing the discussion on fascination imagination and wonder, adding to it a bit about storytelling, songwriting, and how dialect impacts destiny.

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

You can connect with Stephen's work at The Breath and The Clay creative arts gathering and his art and faith podcast here.

Note: This conversation was recorded in 2022.

*This Podcast Series is produced by Brightbell Creative.

Deep Roots & Tangled Limbs P1: Fascination, Imagination & Wonder Feb 02, 2024

In this opening conversation, Ray Hughes shares his timeless wisdom on the topics of fascination, imagination and wonder. As creatives and followers of Jesus, nurturing these expressions of faith are vital to living a full and vibrant life. Tune in to hear Ray share insights on how we can move beyond dull obligation to a religious life and maintain a sense of wonder for the long haul.

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

You can connect with Stephen's work at The Breath and The Clay creative arts gathering and his art and faith podcast here.

Note: This conversation was recorded in 2022.

*This Podcast Series is produced by Brightbell Creative.

Introducing Deep Roots and Tangled Limbs: A Series of Talks on Life, Faith and The Creative Journey Jan 29, 2024

Hello Everybody.

I am thrilled to announce a new series of conversations here on The Listening Porch.

Each week, starting Friday, February 2nd, (that's Groundhog Day in case you were wondering,) my good friend Stephen Roach will be joining me for a series of talks about life, faith and the creative journey I've traveled.

We’re calling these talks Deep Roots and Tangled Limbs. I believe these candid conversations will inspire and encourage you in your own creative pursuits.

- Ray

Visit The Listening Porch online for more inspiring episodes. You can help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes or sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org Also, check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

You can connect with Stephen's work at The Breath and The Clay creative arts gathering and his art and faith podcast here.

Happy New Year Jan 01, 2023

I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year!

Visit The Listening Porch online! You can view a video version of this episode and help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes. You can also sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org or check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

What is Beauty? Dec 14, 2022

Somebody asked me, "What is Beauty"?
Here's what I told them.

Visit The Listening Porch online! You can view a video version of this episode and help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes. You can also sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org or check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

Ever Speaking Dec 07, 2022

Today I'd like to tell you about my new book.

Visit The Listening Porch online! You can view a video version of this episode and help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes. You can also sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org or check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

Thank God and Horace Kephart Nov 08, 2022

I'd like to tell you about the man who saved the Smoky Mountains, Horace Kephart.

Visit The Listening Porch online! You can view a video version of this episode and help support the show by becoming a Patron at patreon.com/rayhughes. You can also sign up for one of my online courses at www.rayhughes.org or check out my beautiful, handmade ink pens at redriverturning.com.

Sauntering and Meditation Nov 03, 2022

Join me for a little porch chat about prayer and meditation