WHOA That's Good Podcast - How to Replace Anxiety with Joy

Episode Date: April 14, 2021

Billboard-charting singer and songwriter Dante Bowe joins Sadie to share his inspiring faith journey and how he overcame struggles with dyslexia, depression, and homelessness. Dante drops a whole lot of truth about gaining perspective when you feel like things aren't going your way and how you can always find joy — even when times are hard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All right, John Tay, but welcome to the WoW that's good podcast. What's up? Thanks for having me. So excited that you're here. We're so excited. A Christian and I have both been pumped for this interview because your music is some of our favorite. In fact, when your new album Circles just came out literally the second I saw a

draw I was like a state of my hotel room and listen to every single song so big big fan love your music and incredible worship leader so seriously so stoked to have you on but I will start this podcast the way I start every podcast on the show with what is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given? Wow. Just just drop it like a tie. Okay, there's been so many great things. I feel like people have told me over the years, but just this one came to my head. It was like it was a manager in the industry. And they said, be careful how you treat people going up because they'll be the same people you have to meet when they're coming up or when you're coming down.

So, you know, just be careful how you treat people going up and that's so good. Like the lower your supposed to be. So. That's so good. I love that. Humility is definitely key. I was actually talking to somebody the other day about how so many times we focus so much on like our public appearance

and on our private life, but it's actually your private life that gives life to anything you do publicly. And so I love that. So much more important for the behind-the-scenes moments. Well, I have just loved watching your life just like explode in the past two years or so. It's been amazing through Maverick City or I know you're with Bethel Music now and you have your own stuff going on. So everybody knows your voice,

but who is Dante Boe behind the voice? So what's your life look like? Behind the voice, I am a country boy from North Carolina. Super simple low maintenance. Like, just love, like I literally live in the middle of nowhere. I mean, I'm in Columbus, Georgia, but yeah, I'd say behind the voice, I'm just a small town boy that really, really loves God. That's awesome.

Did you always know that you wanted to lead worship or sing? I think, yeah, I always felt like I was a good singer, but I didn't, I wouldn't say I wanted to be that, because I've just never saw anyone in my family or around me ever accomplish anything like that. But I always felt like, you know, I'm, I think I'm pretty good at this. I always, I always wonder if people who are really good, like,

know that they're really good before people tell them, you know, because sometimes that you'll be, I'll be like, singing them like, I wonder if I'm actually good, but I mean, I clearly, if not, or I would have made it in that area of life, but that's cool to say that you kind of knew you had this talent. I love that you bring up your family and in your album. I know you talk about your family a lot.

One of my favorite songs was the family tree song and how you talk about just that a lot of people say it's not gonna get better and stuff. What has your family kind of helped the journey that you've been on? Like I am like super super close to my mom my dad my Grandparents and me losing my grandfather in 2020 the beginning of 2020 and Which was really a big year for me and it was supposed to be an exciting year and

That kind of shaped my music in and of itself. I put out voice of God, which was written when I found out he passed. Wow. It was a reigning that day. And the first line I wrote was, I can hear it when the rain falls on my windows. So I felt the presence of God in that moment, even though it was a gloomy day.

But anyway, yeah, so I'd say like, I have a close of God in that moment. Even though it was a gloomy day, but anyway, yeah. So I'd say like, I have a close-knit family and they pretty much, you know, impacted my music in every way, you know, with lyrical content. Even sonically, the R&B undertones are like gospel, soul undertones. So even sonically and just lyrically, they've impacted the whole thing, if you ask me. Well, that's incredible. That's so cool because I love that song so much. It's so great. I love promises to promises is like my favorite song, especially during quarantine. I just remember singing that song every day from the rising sun to the setting same because it just felt like our days were so repetitive,

you know, just being locked in the house, but knowing like, God, you're so faithful. Where did that song come from in you? Yeah, we, I wrote that song with a few of my friends from Africa, Joel Barnes, the one that led it actually came to my house one day. He was in my liver, and he's like, we want to record this song, but we don't have a bridge and we don't know what we wanna say. And I'm like, I'm like playing for me, I'll give my input and he plays it. I'm just like breaking down.

Wow. Because, and this is before quarantine. So we didn't even know we all much of an impact this song would have. This is before quarantine. And so I'm just like, Oh my God, this song is so beautiful. And we ended up riding that bridge. I put my trust in Jesus, my anchor to the ground, my open firm foundation, he'll

never let me down. And we were just thinking about our friends and how some of them, you know, they started out with us. And you know, along the way, kind of giving up on the faith or just things got really, really hard and they kind of doubted whether this whole thing's even real and honestly we wrote that bridge to prophesy over our friends, one of our friends in particular. And it was just a prophecy that maybe one day he'll sing this.

Wow. I put my faith in Jesus, my anchor to the ground, my hope in foundation. He'll never let me down. Wow. That's incredible. I love how you say stuff and it's so powerful and then you just go, yeah. It's so good. So you clearly have such a strong foundation in your own faith.

Have you always been a Christian or take us back? When did your journey of faith really begin? Or maybe if you grew up a Christian, when did it strengthen? Yeah, so I don't remember having an altar call moment in it of itself. I mean, my grandparents on both sides were a pastor. So I just always remember kind of being in church. I mean, my grandparents on both sides were pastors. So I just always remember kind of being in church, I guess, from birth. But I always say I had my first real encounter when I was 16 years old and in my room. And I was a Christian and did all the church things,

but also had all this peer pressure, you know, in school and like all the stuff that we all have been through and just kind of battling like, man, I'm living like two lifestyles. Like I want to just be all in with God, but then it's hard. You have all these other things that you're young and you want to explore and you know, you've been sheltered your whole life and all these different things. But at age 16, I was in my room listening to this gospel singer, Kier, she heard, I would listen to gospel all the time. And I broke down and just had this life changing encounter

with God. He just kind of overwhelmed me with, I don't know, I just felt like love. Wow. I just felt really, really love. And it led to an encounter that would literally mark my life. Wow. And that was when I was, I'd say I was set free from,

I was dyslexic my whole life. And so after that encounter, I asked God, I'm like, okay, if you are, if you say you are, and I've been serving you my whole life and all this stuff, I'm like, I'm gonna pick up this Bible. It was a KJV Bible. And I was like, I'm gonna be able to read this Bible. You know what I mean? I'm gonna actually just pick it up and start reading it. Wow. With clarity. And that happened. Wow. That happened. Oh, I. I read it in a little room. Told my mom. We started reading the Bible every day together.

My mom wasn't really a believer. She straight away. But she ended up giving her life to the Lord when I was 16. Wow. I let my mom to Christ. Did that, did that, did that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that That's one of the coolest stories ever. It's so hard. That is so crazy because I've struggled with dyslexia in my life too whenever I went through school and I didn't even realize it. I always struggle with reading and I was like so embarrassed to read out loud because I pronounce everything wrong and like the whole thing. And then like when I started doing what I'm doing now, I would have never thought I would openly read the Bible on stage in front of people. And like, like that is, would be crazy to me because I wouldn't even read in front of like

10 people because that would be very sad to say something wrong or pronounce it wrong and people would laugh. And so it is so crazy, like that God, you know, if he's calling you to something, everybody says like, he will equate but he really will. And he'll walk you through those hard things in life for those things that you know The enemy presents as a challenge and so that is just like the coolest thing ever Yeah, that's no, I didn't know you went through that. That's cool. Yeah, that's so crazy So you said I was like well and somebody just asked me she started with dyslexia and she wants to be a leader and like she

Want started Bible study but she's worried about reading the Bible and she was asking me about how and I was telling her, like, well, it's amazing, you can listen to the Bible on your phone and there are different ways, but it's also cool that you can literally ask God to help you come out of that and that's amazing. I know that's gonna help a lot of people. So I know you've been through some hard stuff too

and actually I didn't know much about your life before doing this interview besides I loved your music. So started reading up and I read that you were actually homeless just a few years ago. And so in those moments where you're homeless and I want to hear a little bit about that, how did you keep your faith to continue on the path that you felt like God was calling you to when it didn't look like it was going anywhere. Yeah, so I was a missionary for six years and ended up like being this worship pastor. It's a huge church in North Carolina and I felt like God wanted me to follow my dreams. I just, I don't know, I've just, I've never been that guy. I'm always like more like, look, just like,

I'm like, what, like what's more practical? Like how can I possibly pay my rent and like, you know, I felt like the Lord was like, you should follow your dreams. So I ended up doing that. I had a promising thing waiting for me and it felt, you just fell through. Well, and so I moved in with my friend promising thing waiting for me. And it felt, it just fell through. It worked.

And so I moved in with my friend and I was just like, can I stay here until, you know, I get on my feet or whatever. I could have went home to my mom and dad, but like, I just, I don't know, I just felt like, no, I need to like, I need to do this. Like I felt like God told me to do this.

And so, didn't expect a faunted depression. Well, anxiety and doubt and fear, you know, and when I was once confident, where I was once confident, I literally was like the most insecure, you know what I mean? Person and my manager now, who's my manager now came over to the house one day I used to order chick for lame Every single day And I'm like Uber Eats because I didn't want to leave. I just set slip on the couch. I didn't want to leave And he my manager came over and was just like what are you doing? We shouldn't do music We should we should just like write stuff right about here. You know experience whatever and so you know him He's the reason why I kind of got out of that whole depression, to be honest, and start doing more music. And I moved

to Columbus into one bedroom trailer. And I wrote every like all of the matter city songs. Wow. Wow. Live in this trailer. My pastor was paying for the rent because I couldn't afford the rent. And ultimately just in there, kind of like gave it in the field. Wow. I was doing it unto nothing, but I was right.

I wrote, take me back in that kitchen that's like a small, it's like a little, that is the coolest thing. Oh my God. Those are the songs that came and my life changed because of those. Oh my God. It's like, those are the songs that came in my life changed because of those. Oh my God. Season of my life. Yeah. And a lot of other people's lives changed you because of that season of your life.

And that's just cool, even about your story, when you came to have this encounter, I think that's so cool. You were listening to the gospel because I just feel like so many people are having similar encounters because of the music that you put out. And though lyrics that you've said, like the voice of God, all those things, I mean, I know I've cried to a lot of your songs many times. And so it's just really cool

that you're able to reach people in that way from a season of your life that was maybe hard or different than it is now. And so that's amazing. That's a good lesson. And don't ever underestimate where God has you. People will get things and they think like the stage is where it's at. But it's actually sometimes in the one bedroom trailer that got really

meet you in those powerful ways. So that's incredible. I want you to write a book because your life is so cool. Like you need to write a book. How about that? The one who I just like to write a book because your life is so cool like you need a right of But how about that the one who has this like sick writes the book That's awesome another song that I love so much is your song joyful Which I didn't know that you struggle with depression and anxiety so that makes that song even cooler that you have a song joyful First of all, I love just like the beat and the whole vibe of the song, but also the words are really cool.

Where do you find your joy? How do you find your joy in those times that are hard? Because I think a lot of people, they want to be joyful, but they're like, how is joy even attainable in the world that we live in? Yeah. I think for me, joy is just a choice that I've decided to kind of like make. And also in my free people out, but just also like joy to me is just based on my eternity.

Like I feel like this is not the end. So I'm not even like being joyful because of like good things happening in my life or like all those things I mean happiness comes with that stuff. Yeah, oh, this is cool. I pray for this happen also And but like my my joy is just based on what I know the end is and you know, I'm gonna be with Jesus Yeah, I just feel like even if you're dealing with cancer or if you're dealing with dyslexia or like anything is like, you know, I know this is not for me that there's always light at the end of the tunnel. So I noticed the pattern when I was I was a missionary for six years and I used to always have these seasons where I can really really upset like something will happen when I'm like, oh my gosh, can't believe this happened to me or all my moms went through this or, you know, my dad just had this problem and all these different things and

I always get really, really upset and I realize like, oh, it's a new season and that didn't even, it's like it's funny now. We're telling jokes like family gatherings about it and we're laughing about it with friends on the couch. And when I, we're not started noticing that pattern, I'm like, okay, so I know when I'm feeling this like anger or like this just overwhelming feeling, all of them automatically think to myself, oh, it's not gonna last but I'm actually feeling this from being in the middle of it instead of like hindsight and I need to just step outside of myself a little bit and view it that way. So I don't even know that answer the question. No, it does. That's such a good advice and such a good perspective because you're right.

Like, I think that's whenever we let, you know, the world still our joys when we get super near-minded or we get super like, this is the season that I'm in and it's horrible and is it ever going to end all those things. And I love how you said, it's not like circumstantial joy. It's like no matter what my circumstances are, I'm looking towards any eternal joy and an eternal hope. And so no, that's so good.

I love that. I read a quote from you and you said, I love that music can change a way. Sorry, I love that music can find a way to inspire change. And I thought that was really, really cool. And I mean, all your songs are so powerful and the words really matter. What do you hope as an artist?

And as a leader, that people experience whenever they come and listen to your music. Um, I hope they feel comfort and in love and understood, I guess. But I always try to write music that's really, really honest to my life. And if I'm saying it, I live it. Like, you know, I would just live it.

And so I hope that people can like find themselves in just the different stories that I tell or even if it's like an intimate song with God, I hope they can just find themselves in all of that and just feel like a little like me, like I'm understood, like someone else is going through this and being honest about it, you know what I mean? So that's so good.

Well, I can say from someone who listens, I do feel understood and it helps put language to things I'm going through that I don't know what to say or it helps even give me language of truth that I need to sing over myself before I might even believe it. And so, your stuff is so good. Dante, thank you so much for being on the WoW That's Good podcast. Everything you said is well, that's good. And I can't wait for people to listen to this and go

listen to your album circles. It's so, so good. And I love how just genuine you are. Back to your original piece of advice, you really do treat people in such a kind way Even when I met you at passion and today you're authentically who you are and that means a lot of shine through so thank you so much Thank you so much congrats on the baby love. Thank you So excited We just made our baby playlist for you know the the day that we go to labor and That you better believe we got some epic city songs in there we got all kinds of so so we will be declaring

that yeah well thank you Dante thank you so much all right have a good one welcome to the podcast how's your day going hey oh my gosh, it's so, so great. Um, Michigan. And so when we have a 70 degree day in April, we just spend the day outside. So I actually took a nap on the back deck because it is so beautiful. And I love it. So that sounds like a great day. I love it. Well, what was the question that you sent in? Yeah, well, first off, I just want to thank you guys so much for giving us this opportunity to connect. And I've just heard these other questions from other people and it's so awesome to hear your perspective.

But I think a lot of people will really relate to this, especially your list of sinners. Can we have another baby name hint? Oh, shoot. Oh, shoot. She hit us with it. That is it. That's a mic drop. I know.

And you know, I guess we haven't given a baby name hint in a while, have we? No, we not. That was for a specific purpose. Yeah, that was. But now we're getting really close to baby. So I will give you a hint Okay, this is a pretty good hit. Okay her first name and her last name start with the same letter

Good hint So go ponder on that with all the other you know, which oh, I can't even say ponder because last time I So go ponder on that with all the other, you know, which, oh, I can't even say ponder because last time I said go ponder that, somebody was convinced that it had to do with the word ponder. I saw that tick-tock that made me laugh and thought it was price, but now that is exposed because it starts with an H.

All right. Or an R because we don't know what last name she's going to have. So that's not true. It could be R. So Christians trying to throw you off. Go ponder that one. It could be that. Well, thanks for being interested in our baby and, um,

and being interested in her name. And thanks for calling and asking the question. Absolutely. Thanks guys. Have a great day. Okay. Bye. Have a good day!