The Beautiful Pursuit The Beautiful Pursuit

The Beautiful Pursuit

Hosted by Ant McDonald, The Beautiful Pursuit is a podcast for the passionate ones. The ones who feel a fire in their bones, and the ones who wish they did. Originally dreamt up as a worship podcast (for worship leaders and musicians), The Beautiful Pursuit is more like a falling into the deep well of worship and never climbing out. To live encouraged. Inspired. And built up in Love.

For Ant, The Beautiful Pursuit has been the pursuit of Jesus in it all. Not only Jesus in church or Jesus music, but Jesus in everything. Jesus in family, in friendships, in waking and sleeping, in highs and lows, in disappointments and dreams. He's either in everything or it's religion.

Ant spent years working for Christian record label Integrity Media Africa, interviewing artists from all over the world - legends like Michael W. Smith, Lenny le Blanc, Martin Smith, Jeremy Riddle, Kari Jobe - to mention a few. She would unpack and understand their processes; explore their unique personalities and listen to the stories that shaped their art and expression. What she found was powerful, beautiful stories from ordinary people behind some extraordinary songs. Songs that often started out as scribbles in journals or awkward voice notes - and evolved into anthems that have touched the furthest corners of the globe and championed people's hearts and lives.

Inspired by those early conversations, Ant has created this podcast to give those stories wings, and bring them into people's homes and hearts.
Monthly English South Africa Christianity · Arts
13 Episodes

Let's Talk Race - with Siviwe & Marcia Notshe

Whiteness, privilege, racism, justice and mercy, Jesus and The Church... Are you passionate about the kind of God loving and God following thats not just skin deep - that challenges you to go into the depths where God can search and soften, convict and counsel, recalibrate and release? In this…
20 Nov 2020 1 hr 10 min

JULIAN ADAMS

In this interview Ant speaks to Julian Adams about his new book, Terra Nova: New Earth. Julian is a co-director of Frequentsee and leader of The Table, Boston. He is an author, spiritual advisor, revelatory teacher, and leadership consultant in political, business, and creative spheres. An internationally recognised prophet, Julian…
5 Jul 2020 53 min

SUZY YARAEI

Worship leaders you don't want to miss this deep and authentic conversation with one of the most influential voices in worship ministry in our generation. Suzy Yaraei has released numerous albums and trained and mentored many well-known and influential artists and worship leaders around the world. Kim Walker, Josh Baldwin,…
8 Apr 2020 1 hr 12 min

HOMESCHOOLING DURING COVID-19

With COVID-19 and this global pandemic arriving in our neighborhoods, we are all grappling with a new way of living. A significant number of people all over the world have been thrust into homeschooling. One of the most googled questions at the moment is 'how do I homeschool?'... Wrapped up…
20 Mar 2020 41 min

JASON UPTON

"Easy answers are easily replaced". American artist Jason Upton speaks to Antoinette McDonald from his hometown Wisconsin. In this interview they speak about spontaneity, mystery, certainty, remembrance and wonder. The importance of listening and waiting... Upton is a singer/songwriter with the heart of a pastor. Whether he is leading people…
11 Dec 2018 1 hr 13 min

KIRSTIN MAUD

Do you long to flourish? Live full of hope, vision and purpose? Actually follow your heart and your dreams? Be inspired to do just that - to start with the everyday, the ordinary. To learn to thrive and not just survive. Kirstin Maud is one of the founders of Motherland…
14 Nov 2018 42 min

DR CAROLINE LEAF

This September I welcome cognitive neuroscientist Dr Caroline Leaf to The Beautiful Pursuit. Dr. Leaf holds a Ph.D. in communication pathology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Since 1981 she has researched the science of thought as it relates to thinking, learning, renewing the mind, gifting and potential. We…
13 Sep 2018 22 min

JOHN MARK MCMILLAN

I spoke to Charlotte-based singer- and platinum selling songwriter John Mark McMillan just after releasing his 6thalbum and coming off a 35 City Tour in the USA to promote it. Many are familiar with his name especially after he wrote the song “How He Loves” and everyone from Kim Walker…
13 Jul 2018 54 min

WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG

In this episode, I chat to international bestselling author, William Paul Young. Young’s book The Shack has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 40 different languages. In this interivew we speak about The Shack and its success, as well as looking into his…
18 May 2018 1 hr 29 min

JONATHAN & MELISSA HELSER PT 2

Life, as Melissa so aptly puts it is so full of pain and heartache, joy and delight. It's the full spectrum. And we aren't always prepared for that range of emotions and experiences. Yet Jesus immersed himself in it all - in family and in friendships - in the human…
30 Mar 2018 35 min

JONATHAN & MELISSA HELSER PT 1

I’ve heard Jonathan say before that the more heaven comes to earth – the more earth looks like family. I love that so much of what they speak about in building a ministry – is much like building a family. I’ve known The Helsers since 2010 – I was part…
22 Jan 2018 43 min

MARTIN SMITH

It was amazing to listen to Martin Smith - the man who's penned some of the modern churches best loved songs, speak about life, and marriage, family and his deep passion for God and making music. I loved hearing about his new project Army of Bones and how he and…
30 Nov 2017 27 min

TRAILER - SEASON 01 - INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN SMITH

What a way to kickstart The Beautiful Pursuit. Martin Smith was one of my favorite interviews back in 2008 when I was freelance writing and producing for Integrity Music. I happened to be in London when the opportunity arose to interview him. My husband Rowan and I woke up at…
23 Nov 2017 1 min