RADIO

‘Sound of Hope’ Director Reveals the “Secret” Behind the Film

This Fourth of July, Angel Studios is releasing “Sound of Hope,” an amazing film based on the true story of a church in a small Texas town that adopted 77 children. Glenn speaks with the film’s director, producer, and writer, Joshua Weigel, to get the behind-the-scenes details: How did he discover this story? Why did he want to turn it into a film? And what “secret” did he discover at Possum Trot that he hopes all Americans take away from this movie?

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: I am so excited to talk to our guest. We have some really good, hopeful things to share with you here.

But also, our guest is Josh, you may not know his name. But you may know his work.

It's brilliant work. He is the guy responsible for a short film called The Butterfly Circus, which if you've never seen, you must. He got the -- what was it, the Clint Eastwood film maker award, presented by Clint Eastwood, at the caramel film festival for this. It's really, really good. He's got a new movie out. And it is called the Sound of Hope. And it's from Angel Studios." I'll play just a real quick (?) 32nd clip from it. Here it is. Here it is.

VOICE: Are you sure these people want us?

VOICE: I know they do.
(music)

VOICE: Lord.

VOICE: No! No. No!

VOICE: Wrap arms around the most vulnerable. Then where are we at?

GLENN: So it comes out tomorrow, it's in theaters nationwide. And it's called the Sound of Hope. And it is about a Texas church, that adopted 77 kids that no one wanted in the foster care system. It's a true story. And unbelievable. And the guy to tell it is Josh HEP Wiegl. Hi, Josh.

JOSH: Hi, Glenn. Thanks for having me. All that you said, amazing.

GLENN: Oh. I mean, I just love your work. Just love your work. So how did you find the story of this church?

JOSH: Thank you. Well, my wife and I had adopted. And she was working very much in that space in Los Angeles.

And so she ran across the story. And met bishop Martin. And long story short. We felt like, this story had to be told, in a movie if possible.

And so we just, again, that journey. Especially after hearing the kid's stories. It just wrecked me.

GLENN: Horrible. Yeah.

JOSH: I felt like, it's a tough one. To get on screen with all the characters.

But we just dug in and felt like, it needed to be done.

GLENN: I tell you, I have several friends who were -- grew up in the foster care system, and their stories are just nightmares. I mean, it's not HEP Chewchetska.

But it's really a horrible system, that we have many, many times.

And I just -- just in seeing the way you portray some of the trauma from these kids. And the things that the families had to deal with.

I mean, it -- it wasn't -- it's not all rosy.

I mean, it was -- it's hard work. To take kids who have been beaten and abused in a foster care system.

And bring them into your home.

ANDREW: That's right. So these kids in particular. All kids (?) go through extreme trauma just by losing their family and anything related to that. It's just power fully hurtful.

These kids, (?) so that was kids who were heavily traumatized physically or sexually abused. Sibling sets. You know, they hate to break up sets of kids, which is fantastic. They try to keep them together. But it's really hard to place a lot of the time because of that.

Or teenagers, you know, we kind of have -- if people want to do this often, like the younger ones, they're less scary, I guess. You know, it feels like, they won't be as much to deal with.

But it is -- they took on the ones that no one wanted. Which was what really made this story stand out to me.

I felt like, you know, if they can do this. This little average community of people, have the courage to just dive in, when they saw this problem, then, you know, we can all do something.

GLENN: How big is the town of possum trot?

JOSH: Yeah. So it's not even an official town. It's an area. They called it possum trot for years. Which is weird. (?) people might be surprised. Kansas City. When they're thinking of a name of Kansas City.

(?) it must have been a big teal. Way back when.

GLENN: Okay. So it's not -- how much -- how many -- the population of possum trot, compared to this church, which seems pretty small.

I mean, 77 kids. Yeah. How many people were involved in this.

JOSH: The area, probably has three or 400 people. That's sprawling. That's miles is. Miles of area. Considered possum trot.

And so this community is more condensed in terms of the people who were involved and the church itself.

You know, probably has, you know, now I don't know. Seventy-five members or something. It's not a big church.

So, you know, they imagine that. All those kids. And what that did to just the number of people.

The growth that happened so rapidly. Then you have kids that are struggling. So it was a big thing to take on.

GLENN: So what was the secret, that you found, that Possum Trot, that we should all take away?

JOSH: Well, I think on a humanity, human level. We see problems all around us.

And so often, just leave it to others to deal with. Especially the government. Something-something like this.

Well, there's a foster system. Surely, they will take care of it.

But these are human children.

This is nothing that a -- a government should be primarily responsible, in terms of raising the kids.

You know, so I think we have to do -- follow the lead of this community. On one level. And just go, look, there are problems that we can solve.

We must solve them. You don't need to leave them to another.

If you're someone -- this is a Christian church. That's a whole other layer of responsibility and heart.

You -- I think many of us in that place, feel probably even more compelled, to meet the needs of these kids. Then we have Scriptures actually teaching us.

James 1:27. Go and visit and take care of the needs of the orphans and widows. Not just keep yourself pure and unspotted from the world.

There's this need to take action and do things in the name of Jesus. And follow his footsteps. That's my feeling.

Then the community. You know, we -- we had an opportunity, like I said. And it's difficult, no matter what you do.

But when you don't have a community around you. It's much, much harder. And this community, that's the secret there.

Like, their family. It's one big family. Extended family, friends, they all do life together. So these kids came into a very strong community and structure that they know is always there for them. They could always come back to.

And just embrace them, you know. Just all of these different people. Whether they're -- they adopted the children or not, it's just a lot of people around, to become that family.

GLENN: To get back together. So the -- the -- you know, I think our churches have become more theoretical. And, you know, church has become a building, and it's -- it's not meant to be a building. You know, when they talk about it in the Scriptures.

And they say the church. They don't mean the building. They mean the people that are following.

JOSH: That's right.

GLENN: And can a Christian. A true Christian is really hard. (?) not because it makes you unpopular. But because there's so much required to do. That most of us are just like, yeah. Well, I -- you know, I will write a check.

I will help out.

That's not what this is.

And this is truly about building \community\impudent\impunity. And doing the things, you don't want to do.

But you're required to do. And you're ride to do it with joy.

And, man, sometimes that sucks. You know.

JOSH: Well, I mean, that's a powerful reality.

And I think what's so -- so interesting, and honestly, I think the -- the silver lining in that is that as you are called spew these hard things. And I'm (?) just talking about Christians.

I think humans.

You know, we have a conscience.

But you've got people saying, they're following Jesus, in particular.

And they ought to do the things that Jesus did. And follow where he goes.

And he's always going to the broken things.

And we were all broken, right?

So it's -- there is that part of it, that kind of sounds like, jeez, do I really have to do this.

Can I just -- America, with the white picket fence.

The answer, of course, is no.

And what happens, in my experience. Once you step into it. You have everything you need. I think we hear the word grace a lot. I think that's a big part of what we mean by it.

That God will meet you, with what you need, when you step in.

Maybe not even before. You might have to step into it first. And then all of a sudden, you are -- you are full of everything you need.

GLENN: Yes.

JOSH: And it's a struggle. I mean, what the things that disturb us the most, in this world, I -- I feel, a responsibility as a Christian, to do what I can to resolve them.

That's what it means to be light and salt. And all these things. We're metaphorically, you know, talked about as.

And I think that's something that's missing right now in America.

It's beautiful. We have incredible blessings. Thank God for them. The world has been blessed by America.

More than anything else. Who I am?

And so at the same time, it can lull you to sleep. It can numb you.

It can make you put off this comfort, that you ought to bare. So we made this movie to highlight that.

The community actually stepped in and did hard stuff, like we all should do. And they were met with what they needed.

Can and then, you know, we could talk about the movie too. It's a movie.

It's not just a pill. A pill to swallow.

GLENN: No. It's great.

Yeah. So let me just spend one minute just on that.

We -- I'm sure you remember, Josh, when Christian films were just the worst.

They were the worst. And we have made such incredible progress.

At such a fast, rapid rate. And the industry is changing. And you can now tell your friends who aren't necessarily Christian. You've got to go see this movie.

And it's not a preacher., you know, it's not a preachy kind of -- I want to convert you and get you baptized. It's a good movie first.

What's changed? How much has this changed, to get us from where we were just a few years ago, to here?

ANDREW: Yeah. There's a lot, I think. (?) I can mostly (?) just refusing to do things that aren't -- that you can't do withly.

You know, and I think you have to expect a certain level of ability and excellence and skill. And you also have to know and understand the art form, so that you don't misuse it. It's been so used as a tool to preach and spread messages, rather than let it be what it is.

And bring all the great things to it. As a movie. So that people actually enjoy a movie. And for this one, I insist odd that. It's just how we work.

It's like, if we're going to go make a movie, then it ought to be all of the great things that we want and love. And bring us into those theaters. And keep bringing us back.

So I think it's critical. If you like Christian movies, I think you'll like this movie.

It's got a ton of Jesus and all the rest. But, you know, I don't even look at it as a Christian movie.

It's so based on the real world, authenticity was a big discussion throughout. Like we have got to capture the real story. These kids -- what they lived through. What these families dealt with.

So the acting. It's like, there's so much that's worked. That's come together.

That has imbued it with this powerful authenticity. And what we're seeing is dramatic results. I mean, people are so moved, as a creator.

It's -- it's the best thing you can do. But just -- in all kinds of the different ways. Kids who have gone through it. Who have grown up. Are now experiencing a movie. And having a powerful, emotional experience.

And just go down the line.

So it's judge-something that I think you will really (?) love the experience of the movie. We're not saying, hey. Please, help us out.

Go see our movie. Swallow this bitter pill. It's like, no.

GLENN: It's a good movie.

ANDREW: It's a good movie. It's tough (?) to say. You will enjoy it.

GLENN: It's one of those movies you walk away, feeling better. You know, I love movies where you can walk away from it and say, wow. I mean, feel so good. That was such a great experience. You know. And you've captured that. Joshua, thank you so much. Thank you for all you do. If you would like to see this movie. It is out this weekend. You can get tickets now, at angel.com/Beck. Angel.com/Beck. Find a theater near I. Grab your tickets now.

(?) take your family. Take your friends.

It's a great -- you want partisanship the Lord gives you independence. And this film (?) will show you, the path to real spiritual independence.

And it's just an entertaining and really good story, sort of way.

The sound of hope, the story of Possum Trot. It releases tomorrow, grab your tickets now. At angel.com/Beck.

Joshua, thank you. God bless.

JOSH: Thank you, Glenn. Appreciate you so much.

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RADIO

Meet the pro-Intifada candidate NYC Democrats just elected

New York City Democrats just elected 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani, a "socialist Muslim", as the Party's candidate for mayor. But Glenn Beck argues that his radical beliefs are actually communist and Islamist.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

VOICE: Z10852. Something weird is going on. The World Trade Center is on fire.

VOICE: Seriously the top of the building. We're trying to get information.

VOICE: Top level of one of the --

VOICE: To unfold from New York City.

VOICE: A plane crashed just --

VOICE: My sister is in that believe. I hope she's okay. I have to come to New York.

VOICE: It's pandemonium.

VOICE: It's raining papers.

VOICE: Wait a minute! Stop just a second. Why are we -- why are we -- I've got breaking news. Breaking news, yesterday. New York City just elected as their mayoral candidate for the left. And the Democrats, a -- a Muslim radical, who is also a communist!

So, you know, it only took you 25 years. It only took you 25 years, New York, to go completely insane.

Somebody who is -- well, I mean, if I might quote Michael malice today. I am old enough to remember when New Yorkers endured 9/11 instead of voting for it.

But you've got a -- you've got a communist jihadist apologist now.

Who was -- you know, well, CAIR put $100,000 behind his bid for New York City mayor.

So you have somebody who is endorsed by CAIR. That's really good.

He also was somebody who said, you know, he was -- he was for the shooting of the United Health Care CEO.

Said he was looking forward to driving down magnum Joan avenue. I don't know. Sounds like supporting people in the streets. Maybe it's just me.

Then he also said that he was going to globalize the intifada, which I think that's -- maybe -- maybe that's just me.

I mean, what do I know?

Tim Miller who is a podcaster. Asked him a few weeks ago. Asked him about his pro Palestinian slogan. Globalized the intifada. And he said, for me, ultimately, what I hear in so many, is a desperate desire for equality and equal rights, in standing up for Palistinian human rights. Oh, is that what you hear, Mr. CAIR?

Really? Huh, that's interesting.

Right. So globalize the intifada.

I mean, I mean, sure, that's -- I mean well, let me go on.

Because I don't want to take him out of context.

He then delved into the semantics of the intifada, citing the United States Holocaust memorial museum's use of a word for a translation for uprising, in an Arabic version of an article, a museum published about the Warsaw ghetto.

Oh!

So this is just a comparison, about the -- the armed rebellion against the Nazis!

I don't know if that makes me feel better!

I mean, if we're globalizing that.

We're the Nazis in this scenario.

Because I don't think it's the Palestinians.

I certainly don't think it's anybody who is like, hey.

Global jihad. I don't think it's those guys.

Or the Nazis. Who are the Nazis in that?

And it seems, if that's what you mean, then it's not just a harmless kind of slogan about human rights. It is a call for violence on the streets.

Because I don't know if you know, that's what happened when the Jews had their uprising against the Nazis.

I'm just saying!

But, hey, hey, free Palestine.

Oh, that's not what that means, gang. That is not what that means, but don't worry about it. He's just going to be possibly the new mayor.

And that's great. By the way, the Columbia faculty members signed a letter defending Hamas.

They were also among the donors to his mayoral campaign.

So, you know, you don't have anything to worry about.

And his father, who used to work at Columbia. Do you know, Stu?

Is his Dad -- is he still a professor at Columbia University?

He said that -- this violent terror thing of Islam, is not a part of Islam. Now, I've read the Koran, and much of the hadith.

And I'm pretty sure the violence is a part of that. But no.

No. This is something entirely new.

And his father while at Columbia university, wanted everybody to know, that this is actually -- this is something that came out of America!

America is really responsible for this.

And, you know, it really started with the Reagan administration, you know, when he started -- when he started with his very religious terms, to finish the war against the evil empire.

So, you know, that's where -- that's where 9/11 came from.

Is what -- don't worry about it! Don't worry about it!

Because who am I? I'm clearly just -- am I an anti-Semite today, or am I an Islamophobic? I can't remember which one.

Oh, it's probably both. Anyway, Islamophobia. Let me just explain Islamophobia. I haven't even gotten to the Communist part of it. Which is really, really -- New York, you're in one for hell of a ride. Buckle up.

It will be a fun rollercoaster for you. My gosh, I've never been happier that I've been away are if New York.

Anyway, I just want I to know, there is Islam. And then there is Islamists. Now, an Islamist is somebody who really wants Sharia law.

That's political Islam!

That's not a faith. That's political Islam.

Now, let me make really -- something really clear. Criticizing Islamism, is not Islamophobia. Pointing out the dangers of, oh. I don't know.

Political Islam. The ideology that seeks to use the tools of democracy, ultimately to destroy democracy, is not an attack on Muslims.

No. Uh-uh.

You know why?

Because Muslims are often the first people in line.

The first victims of the ideology.

So let's draw a bright, bright line between Islam as a faith, millions of people can practice that faithfully and peacefully.

It's mostly peaceful, okay?

Then there's the Islamism.

Islamism is something entirely -- that's a political project.

A theocratic political -- oh. Left loves theocracies. They love it.

Of course, you never see a problem with it.

See it when an Islamist is touting it. Anyway, it's not about prayer. It's not about fasting. It's not about spiritual life.

It's all about power. It's about merging of mosque and state. It's about implementing Sharia, not as a personal code of conduct. But as a governing legal system.

And it's -- it's supremacy.

Absolutely. Faith.

Religion.

It's -- there's one thing that's supreme.

It's misogynistic.

Deeply intolerant of all kinds of things.

Descent. Secularism. Other faiths. Even competing interpretations from inside the faith itself.

It will behead them too.

So let's -- let's be honest here for a second.

You know, CAIR should be labeled an international terror organization.

In my opinion. In my opinion.

Oh, does that make me -- that makes me an Islamophobe. I'm sure. I'm sure they will start a campaign against me on being an Islamophobe.

Stand in line, guys. You've been doing it since 2001, okay?

I don't really care. And I don't think the American people. I think that record, all the grooves are worn-out on that one, okay?

This is not a religion we're talking about. When we're talking about Sharia law. And we're talking about globalize the intifada. What does that mean, actually, to globalize it?

Does that mean we now want to do what is happening to Israel? All over the world?

Has the Palestinian plight become our plight you now, as Americans?

That there has to be an intifada here!

Because it's the kind of the same. You know. It's kind of the same over, you know, with what the Palestinians are going through.

Well, it's very much like what the Jews went through with the Nazis.

That's a weird one. That one makes my head hurt. It's very much the same as that. And very much the same as the fight against Donald Trump.

Oh, this is going to be fun. It's fun!

Really fun. You know, the irony here is, the ones that will scream Islamophobia the most, are the ones in the progressive left, the champions of feminism, LGBTQ rights. And secularism.

They're going to -- no. You want -- they're going to stand with the people, who want to kill them first.

See, this is how smart they are!

This is why it's going to work out well, in New York City.

Let me just say. If you have an ounce of common sense, you run a business, you have an ounce of wealth. And I don't mean wealth like, you know, hey, Lovey.

Let's get on the boat for a three-hour tour with a suitcase full of cash. I mean you saved anything, anything, get the hell out of New York City.

I mean, this is about survival. This is about free speech. This is about women's rights.
Religious pluralism. Secular legal systems. Liberal democracy.

But it's also about failed principles of Communism. Okay?

First, you have to call out political Islam for what it is. Okay?

And we have to do it with the clarity that we call out white nationalism.

Got to do it with that. Got to -- you know, the Klan. Really bad people.

Really bad people.

Anybody who is shouting for globalized intifada?

Pretty bad. Pretty bad people.

Okay?

Now, let's get to communism.

Because that's another cool, cool angle of the new Democratic candidate for -- for mayor of New York City.

That I just -- I think is cuddly and cute. Sure, it led to 100 million deaths. But this time, New York is going to be radically different. Oh, did I use the word radical?

I didn't mean to use that. What's radical about this guy?

Nothing. He's just like you!

Well, not exactly.

But let's talk about communism, next!

Now, the new mayoral candidate that's running there in New York City. That so many young people rushed to defend and vote for. He's promising free buses.

That's going to work out.

Where are you going to get the money for free buses.

It's free!

City-run grocery stores.

Oh, rent freezes. And finally somebody has done it. A 30-dollar minimum wage.

So under the banner of equity. And, you know, we will tax the wealthy. And the corporations. You know, we're going to squeeze another $10 billion out of them.

Really?

Because they're going to call a U-Haul.

You know, they will call something like U-Haul. There will be a lot of -- there will be a lot of movers that are like, how do I get the truck back from Texas or Florida back up to New York? Nobody is moving up there.

But he's going to do it.

Now, his vision isn't really new. You know, just -- just tax people, so we could have city-run grocery stores. You know, I remember -- I'm old enough to remember those city-run grocery stores in Moscow.

They were great.

The shelves were empty.

But that's just Moscow.

It worked out completely different in Venezuela.

Where, oh, no.

It didn't. That's right. The grocery store.

They were eating the zoo animals.

But it will be different in New York.

Because they have rent controls too.

And that will just choke the housing supply, but don't worry. As a young family.

You know, you voted for it.

You know better.

It will work this time.

So, you know, I like building ideas, I just don't like usually building on the graves of 100 million people.

But, you know, why not? Why not?

You know, use this dogma.

And this time, it will be different. It's not like it was in China. Where the great leap forward, was a gross -- a gross parody of progress. Venezuela, which was oil rich. One of the richest nations in the hemisphere now sees 90 percent of its population in poverty!

Yeah. Darn it. You know what they did?

They decided to take state control of things.

You know, like grocery stores. And it worked out well. How is that free busing working out in Venezuela?

I just want to -- I just want to know.

Anyway, then you've got the globalize the intifada. Which is going to drop a little violence in, and anti-Semitism in with your communism.

Which is weird!

Because violence and anti-Semitism, always happen. When it -- when it comes to -- when it comes to communism.

This is weird!

I've got to play something for you. Because this has talked about on me earlier this morning.

Oh, wow.

Wait a minute. This is -- this is the whole coalition coming together here.

So this is going to be good. New York, this is going to be great.

It's going to be great for you.

No. He's going to uplift you. Then the social fabric of New York City is just going to be -- just one.

It's going to be fantastic. Don't worry about your 120 billion dollars in debt. Or your 10 billion-dollar deficit that you have right now.

You are going to charge the rich more taxes, and they will stay right there.

They will be like, you know what, that 46 percent in taxes that I'm paying, this is just not enough. It's just not enough.

I need to pay 60 or 70 percent to be able to pay my fair share. So that's good. That's good. That's good.

You know, they're not risking 100 million people. It's just 8 million people.

This time, it's just 8 million people.

But, hey. For those of you in upstate New York. That aren't going to be part of this experiment.

Don't worry, you get to pay for it. Because they'll kick it up to the state. The state will have to subsidize everything. And don't you love it?

Really, don't you want to subsidize the really crazy ideas of New York City?

I mean, why don't you have a -- why don't you have a democratic socialist. A/k/a communist mayor.

Why haven't you done that? Are you not progressive enough? Are you not looking into the future?

Are you stuck in the past?

I don't know. I don't know. The graveyard is pretty big. I have a hard time getting past that one. You know, yeah, so I'm stuck in the past. Because I can't seem to pass that graveyard, and get to be down the path with you. But it's going to be a paradise.

Forget arithmetic. You know, or human nature. This time, it's going to work. It's going to work. So all right!

Wish I lived in this morning.

No wait. Nope. I don't. Nope, I don't.

And Ted Cruz, stop it. Stop writing, hey, come to Texas. No. No. Don't come to Texas. Don't come to Florida. Go to California. It's beautiful this time of year. Go there. Go there.