The Baylen Levine Interview (EP 141)

Summary

The Bryce Crawford Podcast

Episode 141: The Baylen Levine Interview
Release Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Bryce Crawford
Guest: Baylen Levine
(Key guests: Peach, Charlie)

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Episode Overview

This episode features a candid, deep-dive conversation between host Bryce Crawford and YouTuber Baylen Levine about the evolution of Baylen’s life and career, focusing on his journey through social media fame, personal growth, friendship, struggles with identity, and, ultimately, his deepening Christian faith. The discussion is marked by honesty, introspection, and practical faith advice for listeners navigating their own challenges, especially in the context of youth culture, social media pressures, and the search for authentic freedom and purpose in Christ.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Baylen’s Early YouTube Journey

• Getting Started (05:27–08:10)
  • Began making YouTube prank videos at 17, which led to being kicked out of a Catholic school due to “cussing” and pranks.
  • Felt misunderstood by school and parents:
    "They didn’t really understand social media. Yes, I cussed and yes, we did pranks and stuff, but I had such a bigger mission." (05:27; Baylen Levine)
  • Goal was always bigger than just pranks: wanted to promote sobriety, going after dreams, and authenticity.
  • Gave everything to growing his channel—it became his full “mission”.

The Downside of Social Media Fame

• Losing Himself in Success (08:11–13:29)
  • Social media career, while initially wholesome, slowly became an obsession.
  • Fame changed friendship dynamics:
    "It consumed me… I had no balance… it was just work, work, work." (08:51; Baylen Levine)
  • Began centering self-worth on online attention, comments, and public validation:
    "My self worth was in the attention of others… I was very self-centered." (11:16; Baylen Levine)
  • Friendships suffered, especially notable falling out with best friend Peach and cousin Kyle.
  • Peach became first friend to confront Baylen honestly, challenging his self-centeredness.

The Role of Accountability & Brotherhood

• Honest Friendships (13:46–20:04)
  • Baylen details the importance of having friends who “heart check” and challenge him.
  • “The people that heart check me—even if it stings a little bit—those are the people I love, because I know that they actually care about my soul.” (17:29; Bryce Crawford)
  • Explains how “yes men” dynamics often surround creators and how true brotherhood was born out of adversity with Peach:
    “Brotherhood was born when [Peach] pushed back because he was heart checking.” (19:00; Bryce Crawford)

Turning Point: Low Points and Openness to Faith

• Hitting Rock Bottom (20:18–28:21)
  • Baylen admits he hit a “low point,” feeling lost and open to new perspectives:
    “I was at a low. I was for sure at a low point. I was going through it...” (20:35; Baylen Levine)
  • Peach inspired greater empathy and open-mindedness; encouraged healthier habits outside of camera life.
  • Charlie, another close friend from high school, influenced Baylen through his consistent, faith-fueled morals and decisions.
  • Charlie’s approach: never pushed Christianity, but “always seemed like he knew... how to always do the right thing.” (22:59; Baylen Levine)
• Adoration Experience (28:22–31:22)
  • First genuine prayer experience during Catholic adoration:
    “For the first time in my life... I didn’t ask for something, trying to control it… I was like, God, I don’t know what I’m doing. Just show me the way.” (29:50; Baylen Levine)
  • After surrendering control to God, felt doors opening in life, clearer sense of direction.
  • New phase begins: regular church attendance and intentional spiritual growth.

Freedom, Fulfillment, and Purpose in Christ

• Redefining Freedom (34:51–36:27)
  • Formerly equated “freedom” with doing whatever he wanted.
  • Now understands true freedom is “giving it up to God” and making the right choice:
    “Freedom is when you make the right choice every single time, when you can choose anything... True freedom is giving it up to God.” (35:05-35:15; Baylen Levine)
  • Bryce echoes that freedom in Christ means no longer being controlled by sin or temptation, but trusting in Jesus’ better way.

Social Media Responsibility & Maturing Online

• On Pranks and Influence (36:46–43:35)
  • Reflects on ways prank content escalated as genre grew, leading others to imitate extreme behaviors:
    “It was really us… but people started seeing people take it so far… this is not what I want to stand for.” (39:05–39:19; Baylen Levine)
  • Now more intentional: no longer wants to model disrespect or irresponsibility for viewers.

Application: Living Out Faith & Resisting Temptation

• Handling Anxiety, Temptation, and Shame (46:05–52:45)
  • Prayers and relationship with God help manage anxiety and resist unhealthy coping mechanisms like porn and masturbation:
    “When I would feel anxious or when I would feel depression... I would turn to bad things to try to make myself feel better... but finding comfort in prayer, knowing that’s not from God, that’s the devil.” (46:05–47:33; Baylen Levine)
  • Admits ongoing struggle, shares practical tactics (go outside, gym, church instead of giving into temptation).
  • “Satan knows your name but calls you by your sin. Jesus knows all your sin but calls you by your name.” (52:24; Bryce Crawford)

The Power of Prayer, Forgiveness & Relationships

• Reconciliations & Growth (53:13–55:49)
  • Advocates letting go of hate, reconciling with friends, and praying for those who hurt us:
    “You’re meant to love yourself. You’re meant to love others. You’re meant to forgive.” (53:29–53:32; Baylen Levine)
  • Praying for people you dislike “lifts” hate from your own heart and can transform relationships.

Final Faith Encouragements

• Advice for Listeners (57:24–60:39)
  • Don’t do religious things out of obligation; focus on a real relationship with God: “Don’t just go to church because it’s Sunday... Really go to build your relationship with God.” (57:24–57:47; Baylen Levine)
  • Relationship with God is like family; don’t just “show up for the food and leave,” stay and connect.
  • Being honest, vulnerable, and consistent in prayer—through good times and bad—transforms hearts and lives.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Losing Himself:

  • “That became all that mattered to me… It consumed me to where like I had no balance.”
    — Baylen Levine, 08:11–08:51

• On Accountability:

  • “The people that heart check me—even if it stings a little bit at first—those are the people I love, because I know that they actually care about my soul.”
    — Bryce Crawford, 17:29

• On True Freedom:

  • “Freedom is when you make the right choice every single time, when you can choose anything. True freedom is giving it up to God.”
    — Baylen Levine, 35:05–35:15

• On Faith and Surrender:

  • “For the first time in my life… I didn’t ask for something, trying to control it… I gave it to Him.”
    — Baylen Levine, 29:50–30:23

• On Shame and Grace:

  • “Satan knows your name, but he calls you by your sin. But Jesus knows all of your sin, but he calls you by your name.”
    — Bryce Crawford, 52:24

• On Prayer and Relationships:

  • “The power of prayer has changed my life, in every aspect… Not even just prayer, but living for God.”
    — Baylen Levine, 55:49–56:08

• On Forgiveness:

  • “Pray for the people you don’t like…. It lifts not only for you; you feel such a lift of not feeling that hate dragging you down.”
    — Baylen Levine, 54:17–55:21

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Important Timestamps

• 05:27 – Baylen’s origin story: starting on YouTube, being kicked out of Catholic school
• 08:11 – Recognizing unhealthy focus on work and online attention
• 13:46 – The importance of honest friends and being “heart checked”
• 19:00 – Brotherhood and accountability with Peach and Charlie
• 28:22 – Baylen’s first sincere surrender at adoration
• 35:05 – Redefining freedom in Christ
• 36:46 – Reflection on responsible influence and prank culture
• 46:05 – Finding comfort in prayer instead of unhealthy habits
• 52:24 – Powerful quote contrasting Satan and Jesus’ view of identity
• 57:24 – Final advice: build a relationship with God, not just religious routine
• 60:39 – Close with prayer for listeners

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Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is marked by vulnerability, warmth, humor, and deep encouragement. Baylen’s tone is honest yet hopeful, offering practical advice and spiritual wisdom drawn from firsthand struggle. Bryce’s role as host amplifies and clarifies these moments with empathy, relatable anecdotes, and scriptural insights. Both emphasize transparency, the journey of sanctification, and the centrality of daily, relational faith over mere rituals.

This episode will particularly resonate with young people navigating fame, social pressures, or anyone seeking real freedom, joy, and meaning beyond what the world offers.

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For more, listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Balin Levine]

Morning, Zoe. Got donuts.

[Bryce Crawford]

Jeff Bridges, why are you still living above our garage?

[Balin Levine]

Well, I dig the mattress and I want to be in a T mobile commercial like you teach me. So Dana.

[Bryce Crawford]

Oh no, I'm not really prepared. I couldn't possibly at t mobile get the new iPhone 17 Pro on them. It's designed to be the most powerful iPhone yet and has the ultimate pro camera system.

[Balin Levine]

Wow, impressive. Let me try. T mobile is the best place to get iPhone 17 Pro because they've got the best network. Nice.

[Bryce Crawford]

Je free. You heard them.

[Balin Levine]

T mobile is the best place to.

[Bryce Crawford]

Get the new iPhone 17 Pro on us with eligible traded in any condition.

[Balin Levine]

So what are we having for lunch?

[Bryce Crawford]

Dude, my work here is done.

[Balin Levine]

The 24 month bill credit on experience.

[Bryce Crawford]

Beyond for well qualified customers plus tax and 35 device connection charge credit send and balance due. If you pay off earlier, Cancel Finance Agreement. IPhone 17 Pro 256 gigs 1099.99 A new line minimum 100 plus a month plan with auto pay plus taxes and fees required. Best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Oklahoma Speed Test Intelligence Data 182025 Visit T mobile.com I started.

[Balin Levine]

To realize that my self worth was in the attention. You make the right choice every single time when you can choose anything. Insecurities are not. That's, that's. That's the devil, bro. Like you're meant to love yourself. You're meant to love others.

[Bryce Crawford]

America, we're going on tour this 2026. We're bringing the I Heart Jesus Live podcast Tour to over 22 cities across America. We're getting in a bus for over a month and traveling the country believing God to miraculously move in each city city in such a specific way. And there's no better way to start your 2026 than to worship with other fellow believers. So make sure to secure your seats, go to jesusonthestreet.org tour, get your tickets, save your seats, bring your friends and we'll see you guys in 2026 for the I Heart Jesus Live podcast tour. What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another episode of the Bryce Crawford Podcast. I'm Bryce. And today's episode, by the title that you can see right now, we have Balin Levine.

[Balin Levine]

Guys, hello.

[Bryce Crawford]

Moses is attacking him right now.

[Balin Levine]

Me and Moses are. We just became good friends.

[Bryce Crawford]

I'm. I'm pumped about this episode and I. I was telling Balin earlier a lot, a lot of people watching have requested it. A lot of people.

[Balin Levine]

That's crazy.

[Peach]

I didn't know that.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, A lot about.

[Balin Levine]

I personally have been wanting, we've been talking about it forever.

[Bryce Crawford]

When I, when I run into people, I get a lot of people telling me that we, like, favor that we like, they like, I remind them of you.

[Balin Levine]

Really?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

That's the coolest thing ever. Wow.

[Bryce Crawford]

Well, I feel honored, so thanks for coming on, dude.

[Balin Levine]

Of course I feel honored.

[Bryce Crawford]

I'm glad you're here. So, you know, if no one knew anything about you right now and they're watching this, what would, how would you introduce? Like, tell us a little bit about you.

[Balin Levine]

Do you all want me to look at the camera or where do I look?

[Bryce Crawford]

You look at me.

[Balin Levine]

Okay. Well, I feel like I'm talking to them right now. I was introducing myself to them.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, but you know, you're like giving a backstory.

[Balin Levine]

Okay, okay. Little lore.

[Libsyn Ads Host]

We got to know the lore.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, yeah. So I am bailin and I kind of just video my life. Whatever we do. That day, me and my friend group started with pranks. Still do some pranks here and there. We're kind of in a, I'm kind of in a, in a new, new chapter of my life. You know, I still like to have fun and mess around, but I haven't, I haven't, I took a break, a break from social media for a little. Just to find myself and kind of, it's, I'm always go, go, go, go. So it was nice to have that time and yeah, that's where I'm at.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, I think it's so good. I think, you know, I mean, I've, I've watched you since I was in eighth grade, probably ninth grade, which is lit, and that's so fun. It's fun that we get to sit down and you had an, you've had an impact on so many people.

[Balin Levine]

Thank you, man.

[Bryce Crawford]

Thank you. A lot of young people, thank you. And I, you know, I know now we've been getting to talk about it a little bit, but you're in this phase of life where you're not, you're like evolving. You know, things are changing. They're a little bit different. And I think change is good and I think that it's healthy. And you've been growing in your faith a lot recently. Faith has become important to you. What's changed for you?

[Balin Levine]

Really, man? I, I, I started to grow up, you know, like, like, things started, things started to change, really, when I wasn't fond of the person I was becoming, you know, and the person I was at the time. And I Didn't even know it in the moment. You know, sometimes it takes. You have to. You have to get. You have to get humbled, you know what I mean? So I was just in a spot of where I finally wanted to listen because for so long I didn't want to listen. I had my ways. I had my. The way I did things, and, And I wouldn't really listen to anyone. You know, I thought, I thought that I knew right. All the time. And so my best friend, Peach, he. He really started to open my mind up to, to some of the changes and some of the things and the, and the ways I was acting, you know, and he, he is a huge reason, Huge, huge reason why all this started is because he just started to open my mind up a little bit to the man I wanted to be, you know?

[Peach]

And.

[Balin Levine]

What was the question?

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, we're talking about, like, what's changed? Well, I think it's important. I think that's good. I think you should stop right there, actually, because I think we should kind of rewind a little bit and kind of dive into when you were younger. So for context, you've always had a passion for YouTube, been filming videos for a long time. You were in high school when you were filming videos and things were starting to change. Like, bring us into that point right there, like making videos on YouTube.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, it's kind of weird because we talk all the time. So, like. Yeah, So I was 17 years old when I really started and I got kicked out of school for the videos. I actually went to a Catholic school, so. So we were cussing in the videos and whatnot, and, and they didn't like it, you know, and so I got asked to leave, but I was very determined. I was very set, you know, because they didn't, they didn't really understand social media. Like, I, yes, I cussed and yes, we did pranks and stuff, but I had such a bigger mission of, like, let me be funny and let me, you know, be. Be myself to kind of wrap, wrap viewers in. And then, and then once they, you know, think I'm funny or they think I'm awesome, then I really had such goals of promoting sobriety and promoting, you know, going after your dreams and promoting being yourself and all these things. But I knew that I needed the eyes to do that. And I also enjoyed pranking and messing around. I enjoyed, you know, balance, you know, so I had a bigger mission and the school didn't really understand that, and neither did my parents. Neither did. I mean, no one did, you know, so when they came.

[Bryce Crawford]

Traditional.

[Balin Levine]

It's very traditional. Especially back then. This was like, this was like 2018.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, which, which doesn't seem that long ago, but like it was. I feel like it's become a little more popular with tick tock and everything to do. So it's become normal.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, for sure. But I think back then, like, I don't even think tick tock was a thing. I think.

[Balin Levine]

No, it was like YouTube.

[Bryce Crawford]

YouTube was like the mainstream. And I think of like 2018 YouTube. I think of like OG like, like older videos. So it wasn't untraditional.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, it was very. It, it wasn't the norm. And so I, I knew my goal, you know, and I, I kind of viewed it as like this is meant to be.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, because once I got kicked out, I really got to lock in and just like grind out videos and I had such plans and such goals and, and, and, and I wanted to do something I loved.

[Peach]

You know? You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I, I wanted to, I knew how happy that would make me and I knew I wanted to influence kids and I knew I wanted to make them smile and make them laugh. And I also knew that I, I expressed myself. School was not meant for me. You know, I, I, I struggled with. Everyone was filling out the college applications and I was like, dude, I, like I, I'm not. I want to do something else.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, and so I put my all into it and I, and I gave it everything I got and, and it, and it slowly started building and I, I got to accomplish every thing that little 17 year old Balin wanted to. You know? So I'm, I'm really happy with how it all played out and I'm, I'm so grateful. You know, it was, it was truly, it was. My dreams came true. You know, I thank God every day. I think the way, the way it all played out is beautiful.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

But then now, then to fast forward is somewhere along the way. I, it's it. I would say and it sounds dramatic but. And I'm sure you know this too is, is you can, you can. Well, I don't know. Do we want to jump? Yeah, bro, jump. You can lose yourself fast in a sense of like then that became all that mattered to me.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

That. That was like I think naturally just changes the dynamic of friendships, of, of relationships, of everything. And, and it, it consumed me to where like I had no balance.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

It was just, it was just like work, work Work, work, work, you know? Yeah, man.

[Bryce Crawford]

I think it's so important because I remember being in high school, my sophomore year, and my Bible teacher, Mr. Schaefer, who I love, adore, I talk to all the time. He's like, he's the best. I remember him in class one time, he said, where's your satisfaction? Where's your significance, and where's your security? What makes you satisfied? Where do you find your significance and what makes you feel secure? And there was a lot of my life where I tried to find my security in people, or I find my significance by what other people thought about me online or opinions of people, or at school or peers or on the baseball team, or I got my significance in the things I would do because I thought that would make me feel good.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

And it's. It breaks my heart, but I feel like there's so much power in what you're saying, because I feel like a lot of people can look at someone like you, like a role model that you've been for so many people, and say, man, he's got everything I want. And you're like, man, even when I had everything I want, I lost myself in it. And I realized that wasn't the goal. And I think for me, it's like the goal wasn't what I was looking. It wasn't the things I was doing to find my satisfaction, significance, and security. When I found that in Jesus, everything changed, because he doesn't change. He's perfect and he's eternal, and he doesn't change his mind about Bryce. And so when I put my trust on something that doesn't change, that's. That's actually secure, that's actually significant and important and satisfying, you know? And so for you, like, what would you. Would. When would you say you started to feel the kind of, I don't know, uneasiness in your heart or like this kind of, like, shift for you? It's not like accomplishments are a good.

[Balin Levine]

Thing, but that's where I found my worth of, like. Yeah, it didn't start off that way either. Yeah, but, but. But it. It. I saw and. And at first I enjoyed it. You know what I mean? Like, at first it was. It was really cool when I realized that no one was saying no, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, every, like, kind of what I said went, you know what I mean? And what I wanted to do and what I want. So it was. It was exciting at first.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And it started off all wholesomely, and it's not like anything ever crazy happened. But it was more of just like I value real friends. I value not having people that always say yes. I value individuals where we, where it's, it's a friendship where you really grow together and you're both learning from each other. You know, it just started to become where like I only had, only had, I didn't have that.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Or, or my dynamic with my family or like my, my, my value came from like what the comments were saying. Like we talked about that at Chickfila. Like it's easy to get that boost of like.

[Charlie]

Yep.

[Balin Levine]

When, when everyone's praising you, it's like, you know, you get that. And I started to, to realize that my self worth was in the attention of others, which didn't always come from a bad place either. You know, like I, I wanted to do well. I've always had morals to it, you know, I mean like people watching probably don't even realize that because through the videos it looks, it looks so great.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

I mean, because I never was lost myself to like drugs or, or having a ton of sex or whatever, you know, I mean, it was never like that. It was just more of like I was very self centered.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And, and the moment where I started realizing it is when me and PJ had a huge falling out.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like he was like, bro, this is not, this is. Yeah, this is not the friend that I knew all these years. You know, I mean like it's almost impossible to be around you because I don't agree with you. He was the only one that pushed back.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And that would frustrate me in that time. And then once he started explaining that to me and I, and I, and I allowed myself to even listen to someone else's opinion because for so long I was like, I used to credit myself. Like I used to be like, I did this. Like, you know what I mean? When good things would happen, I'd be like, I made this happen. I got kicked out of school and I defied the odds and my parents weren't for it and I did it, I did it. Or even when bad things would happen, it would be like, why am I feeling this? Like, I don't want to feel anxiety. This isn't me. I don't need this.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Now I understand that it's so much deeper than that. It's not me. You know, the reason why I'm here is, is, is a blessing like, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Even anxieties and even all that is all God's plan, all those things. Now, looking back on it, that's the reason I am the man. That's the reason why I am the man I am today. But I used to think it was all me. So PJ was the first one before it was even before it was even about faith, yet. He just even opened my mind up to, like, maybe Peach could be right about things. You know what I mean? Maybe I don't always know.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

The. The man that has been there as my best friend all these years, if anyone knows.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

So he started painting news perspectives for me, which, which started it, I would say, like, two years ago, you know, I mean, like. And it all starts like, like the journey of, of change. It, it started like he was like, bro, why don't you come live with me? You know, I mean, like, even something as simple as the gym.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And just doing something outside of, of being on camera or, like, let me, Let me, like, let me try to get attention or let me, like, make money or. And, and I'm not even saying that stuff's bad. Like, I think it's important to. I love. It's important to me to provide for my family or to, to, to, you know, make people smile and laugh through the phone, you know, but it, it took over. Not in a good way. You know, you gotta have balance.

[Bryce Crawford]

It became an idol in your life.

[Balin Levine]

Yes.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Yes, yes, yes, yes. And I was also uplifting certain things. Like, like, like, I, I. I was uplifting the famous, like, lifestyle or world.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And I'm not saying, like, any, like, crazy stuff, but, like, I, like, I thought it was cool when you were the guy, you know what I mean? And you were like, like, everyone was looking to you and everyone was. I, I idolized it to a degree. And then, like, rupturing that friendship with pj, I was like, what am I like, you know, I mean, I remember looking around kind of at who was in the room one time. That's when I first reached out to Peach to even talk, because he thought, yeah, I'm never gonna. He's never gonna even hear me.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

I'm just gonna do my own thing and, like, we're friends, but. Yeah, it's not going to be how, How. How it used to be and how it should be.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, so I remember looking around and like, anything. And I'm not, I'm not blaming others either. A lot of it is me. I. I kind of made these dynamics, and I looked around, I was like, if I said the most profound thing ever right now, everyone would agree.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

I mean. Or if I was like. If I was like, f. Everyone would agree.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Where I want someone, I realize that, like, I want to have relationships. And like, I said this. I'm not. I'm not putting it on anyone else because you have the power to speak up and be like, hey, I want you to tell me.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

When I mess up.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

So I started realizing. I mean, I'm saying I'm speaking from my perspective now, and back in the day, it was, like, boring to me. I was trying to understand why these dynamics were the way they were. And so I wanted. I want someone in the room to be like, why are we saying f. Peach.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know, I mean, like.

[Balin Levine]

Like, that's your brother. You should be, you know, And I realized I didn't have this. I didn't. You know, and so that started the conversation with Peach. And.

[Peach]

And then. And I don't want to.

[Balin Levine]

I don't want to. I don't want to over. Like, you want me just to keep talking? Yeah, bro, I'm so much to say no. I mean, I'm actually really excited because I haven't done a podcast in forever, you know, and I'm so excited to. I haven't really even had the opportunity to speak on a lot of these things.

[Bryce Crawford]

Well, I think it's good that you're doing it, especially this. Like, I think, like, you might think you're just rambling, but you're speaking on something significant because it's easy to surround yourself with yes men. And, like, I think that's why a lot of people, like, you know, when you. When you find out that a pastor, you know, does something sexually immoral, and then you're like, whoa, how would a pastor do something like that? Like, you know, he's got, like, people that hold him accountable or, like, whatever. And then you find out that, like, those guys were yes men. Like, they were too afraid to ask, say something to him, because they saw something small going on, you know? And so, you know, it's like. It's like what we said at Chick Fil?

[Balin Levine]

A.

[Bryce Crawford]

Like, there's a lot of people that want have a view of your life, but who. Who can you count on to have a voice in your life that can, like, actually speak up and say, like, hey, bro, there's something wrong? Because honestly, the people that Heart check me. Even if it stings a little bit at first, those are the people I love.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Because I know that they actually care about my soul.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Keep going. So.

[Balin Levine]

So you're like, it makes a good friend.

[Bryce Crawford]

It makes a best friend.

[Balin Levine]

And. And. And. And it's crazy because naturally there's dynamics. Like. And that's why I love talking to you, because I'm you. This changes everything.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Because it's like. It's like naturally people are relying on you for certain things or naturally people see you a certain way. So if you meet someone, they already have this perception of, like.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Not one. Because, like, bro, I know how it is. It's like, if I'm with you, if I'm with someone that I. Absolutely. If I'm with Yachty and he's doing something like. Like anything. I'm. I'm such a fan, bro.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

To this day, like, we're boys. But, like, I'm not gonna be like, yo, you should change this. I should, actually.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

But, like, I'm not even saying he needs to change anything, but I'm just saying, like. Like, that dynamic changes things to where, like, I'm a little more timid or a little more, like.

[Bryce Crawford]

Sure.

[Balin Levine]

When I'm around, you know, because I grew up, and a lot of the people that I started become. Becoming friends with either watch the videos or. You know what I mean? So naturally, things just change. Oh. First world. First world problems. But it does. It shifts dynamics that 95% of people in this lane probably aren't even aware of.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Because it's just life.

[Bryce Crawford]

Well, a lot of people, like, they're looking up to you, and they're like, well, I'm afraid if I. If I say something, maybe he's not going to, you know, like me. And that's not anything that you're doing. You're not painting that picture.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

But it's just reality that happens to me. All. You know, that happens to me when I approach certain people. It's like, oh, should I. I'm even afraid to just say my name because I don't want to say it wrong. And then they're like, that guy's a weirdo. You know, like, there's, like, that fear.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

And. But then it's like, you realize that you want a brother. You want, like, that kind of bond. Like pro Proverbs says, a brother is born in adversity. And you and Peach have always been close friends. But what you're describing Is like brotherhood was born when he pushed back because he was heart checking.

[Balin Levine]

Oh, absolutely. It changed, it changed my life, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Because losing, losing that friend. And then also me and Kyle were fighting too. So it's like my two boys from my cousin and my best friend before everything were distancing themselves from me. It made me. And sometimes like respect or from full transparency, sometimes you need to get humbled or lose things to kind of take you out of that funk.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And that's real. That's, that's, that's because it's hard to see when everything's going and everything's good and everything is good, you know what I mean? So that really checked me. And that's when I started, and this was like two years ago. That's when I started to even open my mind up to the fact that like maybe my. The way I do things is not always the correct way.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Peach made me a lot more empathetic. Peach made me a lot more open minded, you know what I mean? And that, that's when it, that's when I started to go down this new path.

[Bryce Crawford]

And not only like just butting heads with like your closest friends, but would you feel like that you were just like at a low point? Like, like, I don't know, for some people it's different. Some people were like, yeah, I was just chilling. I was just butting heads. But did you feel like that you were good or were you at like a low point outside of just friendships?

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, I was at a low. I was for sure at a low point. I was going through it, you know what I mean? Like, oftentimes when you're like that, your mind is so much more open to critiquing and to.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Because I knew that I, I wanted to be a better man.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, for sure. And Peach was the one that kind of like sparked this, this newfound interest in faith, right?

[Balin Levine]

I would say. Well, yes, but. But we'll get into this. We can right now if you want. But it was my best friend Charlie, where, where it really started. He's, he's. He's one of my high school buddies. He's not in any videos. He's. If you guys somehow know him, he's in like three videos. But like, yeah, he's totally outside of this world. Me and him were giving Peach advice. My advice was like, bro, you got to move a certain way. Like, you got to like Never give up your power, bro. Like, make sure you, like, it's like, I've been, I've been the good guy. Like, you don't want to do that, bro. You got to move a little. Like, like, like, like, be it you open up, like, the second you give emotion, they're going to, they're going to use that against you. Yeah, rightfully so, because I was not rightfully so, but that's what I was almost taught growing up through experiences and whatnot. And then Charlie was over there, like, always do the right thing, no matter what. Communicate your communicate. If they use that against you, then you know they're not the one. You move forward. And I was like, bro, like, whatever. Like, you know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

But time and time again, he would say these things even outside of, Even outside of that situation. In my past, in my, in my phases of, of uplifting money or attention or whatever. He would always, without, without even saying directly, like, it was never like, yo, you need to become Christian.

[Peach]

You need. You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, it was, it was just like the, the things he would say always seemed like the right thing to do. And I respected the man he was, and I didn't even deep down, I did. But on the outside, I was like, if you act like that, you're gonna get your heart broken. You're gonna, like, people are gonna take advantage of you, bro. You gotta be hard. You gotta be tough. And as I started listening to his advice more with. With life in general, it always seemed like he knew. Like, it always seemed like, like, how do. How do you always do the right thing?

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And, and same with Peach. Like, like Peach, a lot of the time I. When the whole room was okay with something wrong, he would go the other way and he wouldn't be embarrassed to.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And, and, and as I started to. To ask more questions from them, I realized that all, you know, came back to God and, and, and Charlie's morals and everything was because of his faith and the man he was. I, I, I was, I was inspired.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I was moved. I was in, like I talked about earlier, I got so used to, like, I felt like I knew everything. Like, y' all watch me. I know what I'm doing. Like, you know what I mean? And it still came from a good place. Like, be sober.

[Peach]

Like, like, yeah, you know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, follow your dreams.

[Charlie]

But.

[Balin Levine]

But it was deeper than that, you know? It kind of gave me this complex of, like, I knew it started wholesomely, and it started for years. Things, but then it gave me this complex. Like, I always know.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, so. So Charlie started to. To paint a. Not. Not paint into perspective, but. But I would, like, be in a room. Like, what is fueling this?

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, his energy is so pure and it's so beautiful, and it. And it's not. It's so consistent of, like, somehow he is always able to. To do the right thing and do what's best, not just for him. Not just for what people think, not just, you know, for. For God, you know? But I. I didn't know that at the time. I was more of just like, huh. You know, like. Yeah, like, where does this come from?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Because it's so countercultural. Everybody and their mom would say, yeah, bro, be hard. Like, be hard. Like, don't do it. Be tough. Be tough. Like, you're not the only one. Everyone would say that, but. So when you hear something that's not normal, it just kind of throws you off.

[Balin Levine]

It does.

[Bryce Crawford]

You're just like. Just like, why aren't you saying what everyone else is saying right now? It's like. But then you realize that there's. He's got a heart change. Charlie's got this heart change. So then Charlie's kind of talking to you about faith, about Jesus. You guys are going to church again? And when would you say for you?

[Balin Levine]

Not yet. We didn't go to church yet.

[Bryce Crawford]

Oh, y' all were just kind of like, having this.

[Balin Levine]

No, no, no, no. Yeah, not yet. We were just. We were just. I was almost just exam examining him.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

From afar. Of, like, how. What is feeling this, you know? And then I. And then I. We talk to him deeper, but also back to what you were saying of, like, we are taught in. In this on social media and within everything of, like, you got to be hard and you gotta, like. I mean, especially with the things like. Like that are uplifted.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Online or. Uplifted.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Or even personal experiences. Like, I was raised. My father always told me to do the right thing and to be honest and to, like, not worry about, like, power. Like, you know what I mean? And I lost that because of experiences where I thought, yeah, dad, that's in fairy tales. But you got to. You got it. Like, you can't. And there's a balance. Like, obviously, there's like, you don't want to be like, we'll get into that later. But there's a balance. Of course. Like. Like, it's not. When I say it's okay to share emotions. I'm not saying, like, you're calling complaining your girl or someone, like, every day crying, but it's. If you are open to be not toxically emotional and vulnerable and be able to communicate, you know, but still, like lead and still. And still, you know, be there for them. That's a beautiful thing. But I didn't know seeing Charlie even speak like that.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Or seeing him, he would call out the people that were around that were like, man, are you? And it wouldn't. It wouldn't. It wouldn't. It wouldn't come across aggressive. It would have come across like, oh, screw that person. Like, you know, because. Because it would just. It would just be more questions like, bailey, you think they're the best for you.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And I was like, huh? You know? So these things Charlie were saying were just adding up anyways. I was lost in life, bro. I was also starting to change with my career.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I wasn't really feeling it like, that. I wasn't finding worth in it like that. I knew there was something bigger. I knew there was something. But I was distracting myself with pleasures or with.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And things that I was just lost.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Or. Or even, like, when I say distrait, you can. You can distract yourself with just being lazy.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yep.

[Balin Levine]

Of, like, I'm just chilling today.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

That's not how we're supposed to live.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, I mean, you're supposed to idle. Like, that is not right.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Laziness, like, slaps God in the face.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Like the days that I'm lazy. There's a difference between rest and lazy.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah. Yes. Yes.

[Bryce Crawford]

But, like, the days that Bryce is lazy, I feel like I'm slapping God in the face and saying, yeah, I'm not excited about the life you.

[Charlie]

You know.

[Balin Levine]

Exactly. And there's also. When you need a rest day, it's so much different than when you're like, man, I don't really know what to do. Life is hard. I'm gonna just chill in bed and watch tv. Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I'm gonna just, like, eat some food, stay up all night and eat.

[Charlie]

Like. Yeah, yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Tell myself I wasn't going to cuss on this podcast, so see if I can do it. I said I was about to say something. You've done great. Thank you. Thank you. So I was lost. Super lost. I had never. I didn't Connect with. With the. What's the word? And I guess, like, mega churches. I never connect with it. Not saying that that's bad or anything.

[Charlie]

I just.

[Balin Levine]

It didn't. Nothing had. I wanted to connect with things, but I. I hadn't yet. And also I noticed that, like, yes, I was. I was praying in that. In that chapter of my life, but I was also praying because I wasn't doing well, you know what I mean? I hadn't understood what prayer really meant yet, so I was, like, moving in the right direction. But. But, you know. Yeah. But then at this point, I'm just lost. I'm, like, so confused with everything and deeper stuff that I don't want to say. But. But just like so many things in life I was lost with. Charlie's like, yo, bro, come to adoration with me. I was like, what. What is that? And he's like, just come to adoration. Say a prayer. You're in the presence of Jesus, you know, I didn't understand. I didn't even really understand. Like, I just knew God, you know what I mean? Like, I. I didn't even. Even when I was there, I didn't really know.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

What it was.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

But I remember when I stepped into this room, it was beautiful, you know? I mean, I felt this. This. I'll never forget the feeling. And for the first time in my life, when I. When I. When I prayed for once, I didn't ask for something, trying to control it. Like, I have my whole life outside of prayer, during prayer, just in general, I would always. I. I would always try to control things. Not in necessarily a bad way at times a bad way, but. But like, I. I viewed it as, like, manifestation. Like, oh, if I put my mind to something, I'll always do it.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And like, it was like all me, you know? So. So I. When I went into that. When I went. When I went to adoration, I. I said a prayer. I was like, God, I don't know what I'm doing. Just show me the way.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Just show me what direction I'm supposed to take with everything. Like. Like, I. I don't know. I gave him. I gave it to him, you know what I mean? Rather than trying to control it for myself or even ask for something, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

So we left. And I mean, it was. It was. It was beautiful. But I didn't even. I didn't think about it after that, you know? I mean, I continued on with my life and. And then Months later, Charlie meets someone and, and, you know, introduced me to, to someone that just changed my life forever.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I was like, there's no, there's no way that Charlie brought me to adoration, then meets this person, then this person helps me grow so much in my faith. And me and Charlie start like, like that's when I, that's, that's what, when I started going to church.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And it was so clear to me that as soon as I gave it up, you know, I mean, as soon as I let God control the wheel, everything started to make sense. You know, where I was supposed to go down to the little details of my life.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And, and that, that is where I really started to know that like, like everything that's ever happened, anything, it wasn't, it wasn't me. Yes, I have free will, but like, like, these are gifts from God, you know, I mean, these are blessings from God. All the hardships were on purpose. All those things taught me something. I wouldn't if you were just easy floating, you'll never learn.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And so that's, that's when I started to really. That's when I started to actually really grow in my faith.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, dude. I think that's so, so that's always incredibly encouraging. I remember when we talked a little bit about that at Chick Fil A, because when you, when you don't surrender, you don't need God. But that's like the worst way to live. And a lot of people are looking for freedom. They've got a God sized hole in their heart. They're looking for love and trying to find love in sex, porn, drugs, all the sinfulness, and they can't find it. And then they wonder why they can't find it. And I think it's, you know, if you want something, if you want something you've never had, you got to do something you've never done. And like, that's just being transparent. I remember a mentor told me a long time ago, he said, bryce, transparency leads to transformation. Like, you can't change unless you get honest. And it's like in that moment for you, you're saying, all right, God, I'm tired of doing it my way. And I even think what you said afterwards, like, yeah, I prayed that and just kind of went on. I think that exemplifies total surrender because you're just like, all right, I did it. And then I'm not. Like, there's no stress when you're trusting God, like, that's a weird thing about faith, is, like, you. You don't know, like, the little. The little things that, like, you know, the left turn, right turn, this thing. You just know, like, okay, God, I'm trying to be faithful to you. I want to do what you want me to do. So just, like, let it happen. And I'm gonna keep loving you and being faithful to you. And that was a game changer. And the fact that you're just praying, that's just praising Jesus. The only thing you say is praising Jesus. How many times in my life do I reflect and think that all I do is just ask God. Like a genie in a bottle. God do this thing for me. And I'm only asking him for things that Bryce wants, not what I need. I'm asking for what I want, and God will only give me the things I need. And I thought that he was just a total buzz kill because I wasn't getting the things I was asking for, but really, he was just protecting me because he, like, loves me and he's the best dad, and he knows what's good for me and he doesn't want to hurt me. And I just think that's so important because you get. You get to a place where, you know, you either you either humble yourself before God or you get humbled by your sin. And I've been humbled by my sin before. That's the worst. That's the worst ever, like, ever. And so it makes me go, like, man, I really want to, like, just be faithful and trust on you. And especially recently, I just feel so. Such an urgency and a fire in my heart to love people like I've never loved before. To serve people like I've never served before. To, like, love and serve people like it's my last breath and show people the love of Jesus and tell them the truth about Jesus. Because it's just like, there's something inside of me that's burning. That's like, man, people need this freedom.

[Balin Levine]

They do, you know?

[Bryce Crawford]

They need the freedom. They need Jesus. And that's the game changer for you.

[Balin Levine]

It is. And freedom is often people don't know. When I was a kid, I thought freedom meant being able to do whatever you want.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

That's not freedom at all, you know? Freedom is when you make the right choice every single time, when you can choose anything.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

True freedom is. Is giving it up to God.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Because I. I used to Think that, like, oh, it's doing whatever you want.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

No, that.

[Balin Levine]

That'll. You won't find fulfillment in that.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

That's not actually freeing.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Say, yeah, bro. I even felt that way, too. Like, when I always thought, especially when I first became a Christian, I thought freedom was just like me being able to avoid sin and, like, avoid problems. But then I was like, that's not freedom. Freedom is when those things don't control me anymore, and I don't have to give those things the power when I'm trusting Jesus. Because when I'm trusting Jesus, those things don't have power. They lose power over me. Sin and temptation, all these things, they lose power when I'm trusting Jesus. Because I'm choosing to say, your way is better. Your way is better. What you have in store for me is better. Your will for me is better. It's magnificent. It's awesome. And that freedom's the best. It's the best to live in freedom. I wanted to ask you about something in particular, too, because I was thinking about it earlier when I knew you were coming over. Today was in your recent video that you made on YouTube, the Walmart one, when you went back and you were apologizing. First of all, cinematic masterpiece, beautiful. What I loved, first of all, what I love just about you, brag on you, is how honest you are and how you own up to everything. You own up to the good, you own up to mistakes. I love that about you.

[Balin Levine]

Thank you.

[Bryce Crawford]

And I think the most beautiful thing I thought was when you were. You did that skit in Walmart, when those kids come up to you and they're filming and they're like, yo, I just pegged an old lady in the back of the head with a football. And you're like, why'd you do that? Like, why'd you peg? And they're like, I'm just trying to be like you. And you're not. Like, you're like, I wouldn't even do that. I wouldn't even peg someone in the back of the head with a football. Like, why are you throwing footballs at old women? Can you kind of talk a little bit about that? Like, how, you know, your heart was pure from the get go, like, being fun and being pranks and things like that. But, like, people kind of took it to an extreme, you know, I'm talking about that, like, even you wouldn't take. Like, did you, like, if you kind of like, walk me through that, process that with me and like, what did you. Did you feel like, did you feel bad or responsible when people would take these extreme.

[Balin Levine]

Absolutely. When I started, it was very natural. It was like, we mess around, and if something happened, it happened. And if some altercation happened on camera, you know, and then I think the. The genre blew up so much and. And myself included. You started to see how many views you could get if someone was yelling at you in that thumbnail.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, so then it. Rather than like, oh, we're gonna have fun today, it was like, let's go in Walmart.

[Bryce Crawford]

And like, that's purposefully made someone upset.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And. And just the whole idea of it of, like, realistically you are walking in there with a camera.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You're being obnoxious, someone gets upset, and then you flip it on them.

[Charlie]

Yeah, yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And then because the viewers are so young, they see it from your perspective.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And they like it. They. They're like, oh, f that dude.

[Peach]

Like, you know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, like, yeah, trying to hate on you. Having fun these days? I'll still go mess around and have fun, but if someone's like, if someone's being polite and, and like, oh, I don't want to be on camera, like, hey, can you stop doing that? Of course, man. Like, yeah, you know what I mean? But. But kind of like your eye. My eyes were just like, so, like, oh, get the clip. And it became. Almost. Almost convinced myself that it was right, you know? I mean, because I'm like, yeah, we're just coming in here having fun, filming it. Like, yeah, why do they care? You know? And so the genre blew up so much to where then I started. People started seeing people take it so far, you know what I mean? Like, just like, ridiculously far.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And. And I was like, dude, this is far from what it started off as.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And. And this isn't. This is like, totally not what I want to stand for.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, and I. I fully take responsibility. People took it too far, but I also took it too far a lot of the time. Like, and, and that really, that really, number one, I just grew up, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, as you get older, when you're a kid, it's like, oh, us against the world. You know what I mean? I just grew up a little. But it's. It's. It's not cool to be disrespectful like that.

[Bryce Crawford]

It's not cool to be a jerk.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah. It's Not.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, I. Man, dude, I think you should even. You know, and it's like. It's like kind of a joke, you know, watch. You go back in and, like, apologize people. Oprah, we got a camera. Is it cool if we record you? The guy's like, yeah, bro, you can record me. It's like, I know.

[Balin Levine]

I was like, what? I can.

[Bryce Crawford]

Everyone said that, you know, I was like, every.

[Balin Levine]

No one said. No one said no. I was like, huh? You know, all these years, I've been like, why don't they let us film? Yeah, we go in there, just, you know, vibe.

[Bryce Crawford]

And then. And then, like, sure.

[Balin Levine]

Film.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah. It makes no sense, you know, but then it's like. It's a kind of a joke. But then it also shows your heart because it's just like, well, wait a second. Like, it started pure, then it got a little crazy. And that wasn't my intent to make it crazy. Like, I feel like. Like, I'll give you an example, which I love. This is, like, On My Heart is, you know, before we started filming us talking to people about Jesus. That's what I was doing ever since I became a Christian. I mean, the moment I got saved, I ran up to people and it would tell them Jesus loved them, and I would run away before they could respond because I didn't know the answers to their questions, you know? And so I was like, that's why it was so easy to pick up the camera and not force an interaction with someone, because it was like, this is a lifestyle, you know, and then so many people are being impacted, and that's the goal. And then now there's this perception out there where, well, I'm only going to go tell people about Jesus when a camera's rolling for other people, and I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't want people to think that's the only time you can go share Jesus is when there's a camera rolling. Because that's not genuine. That's not sincere. You need to go talk to people about Jesus. If you're at the grocery store, if you're at the restaurant, on camera, off camera. In fact, I would rather tell more people about Jesus off camera than on camera.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, exactly.

[Bryce Crawford]

Because the only reason that we're recording it is, you know, because God's called us to do it. Felt like God gave me a dream. A literal. I woke up in the middle of the night from a dream where God was, like, asking us to record these conversations that we were having to encourage the body of Christ and believers. And it was great.

[Balin Levine]

And.

[Bryce Crawford]

And I still think it's great and I still think it's pure, you know, but it's like, you know, sometimes people can take it too far or like to a thing where you're like, well, I'm not encouraging that. Like, Bryce isn't encouraging people to only share Jesus on camera. Bryce is encouraging to be a lifestyle in the same way. It's like I'm trying to encourage people in sobriety and things like that and to be fun and be a kid. And it's like, but people are like chucking footballs at old ladies heads. And then it's like, I'm not chucking footballs at old people's heads. Like I'm, you know. Yeah, I don't know. You get what I'm saying though?

[Balin Levine]

Absolutely.

[Bryce Crawford]

It's like there's social media. Sometimes unintentionally people like take it to the extreme and like, bro, I'm like, does it, does it ever shock you when it's like, I mean, you're pretty bold and then like there's like people that are like more bold than you, like on like, like times 20.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

And you're just like, I didn't even know that existed.

[Balin Levine]

Exactly. What you said is. It doesn't come across genuine to me.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

It comes across of like, like we genuinely. Everything. It's so funny because everything that was on camera in the, in, in the beginning, before I started to kind of be like. Because there was an era where I started to mature, but I was afraid to mature on camera because it was what everyone's known, but it was really us, you know what I mean? Like people like, so you, you, oh, you drink or smoke off camera and I'm like, no, dude, like, yeah, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Or like so you're like going and like messing around. Yeah, like for the camera. I'm like, no, dude, like when we're not filming, that's what we were doing, you know? I mean like, I never was in the partying or like even like, like video games or anything. I would just like to go out and like, just have fun with the boys, you know. So it was all really, really genuine.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And then, and then when I started to pick up on that, it was like a. Almost like a formula, you know what I mean? Like, I'm sure there's people out there that, that said like were sober, that weren't even sober, you know, it became like a thing, you know? And.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, yeah, it's like, you.

[Charlie]

You.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, you want to encourage the lifestyle. And, bro, I think it's so cool because now you're, like, encouraging this lifestyle where it's like, man, Jesus has changed your life and impacted you.

[Balin Levine]

Absolutely.

[Bryce Crawford]

And it's great. And it's like, that's the prize. That's the goal. Like, living for Jesus is the prize. And, you know, that's why I want to live for Jesus, because I'm like, that's the goal is living for Jesus. And he gives me the satisfaction. He makes me feel secure. He makes me feel significant. Like, that's the. That's the ultimate prize. And, you know, even, like, man, even recently, like, just the cool conversations I've been getting to have with people where even today, like, Dylan and Chris, they went to go interview. We're getting to share this lady's story. She's been battling breast cancer for two years, and we're getting to share her story and just how through suffering, she's been drawn to Jesus more and more and more, and how Jesus is giving her satisfaction when she has every right to be unsatisfied. And I'm like, that's the goal. I want to be like Ashley, who's battling breast cancer every day, and her. She's finding more joy even in the suffering because of Jesus.

[Balin Levine]

Or. How'd you meet her?

[Bryce Crawford]

Through my church.

[Balin Levine]

Okay.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, through my church. Or, you know, my Uncle Tommy, who went to prison and found Jesus in prison.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

And now it's like the best guy ever. Like, the coolest guy ever. And I'm like, I want to be more like Tommy, who loves Jesus and realizes that God doesn't see him for his past, but God sees the heart, and God sees the changes he's making. He's put his faith in. I want to be like Tommy, because Tommy's like Jesus. And I think that's just like. That's the prize.

[Charlie]

Yeah. What is.

[Bryce Crawford]

What's been the best part about following Jesus for you?

[Balin Levine]

I would have to say, really, like, a big thing for me is. Is finding so much comfort in prayer.

[Peach]

You know what I mean? Like.

[Balin Levine]

Like when I would. When I would feel anxious or when I would. When I would feel depression or when I would feel these things.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I almost let it consume me, you know? Like, I would. I would turn to. To. To bad things to try to make myself feel better. When I say bad things, it can be as simple as staying up late.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Or eating like crap or being negative. You know what I mean, so finding so much comfort in prayer and knowing that anxiety and you know, that need to then give in to bad things, that's the devil, you know what I mean? That's not like when everything's going good, when you start to get anxious about something or when you. That's not, that's. That's the devil, you know what I mean? And you have the power to, to turn to God, you know, not to turn to those things. And I think that that is a two part question because, because in that being able to then go share that with other people, you know what I mean? And be able to have conversations with people and being able to help them because so many, how many kids struggle with, with anxiety? How many kids turn to porn or turn to drinking or turn to, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Things like that. Like even just recently, I don't masturbate anymore.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And I, because I noticed that I would, I would and I have. I haven't watched porn since I was 19 or 18. 19, I don't know. But I made that decision a long time ago of just like recognizing that that doesn't make me feel good.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

But as I've, as I've just grown even more, I've noticed that like when, when. And it sounds dramatic, but it's real, you know? I mean, like, to someone that doesn't understand, it's like, yeah, when you get that temptation of like, I'm sad right now, I'm anxious right now. Jerking off will make me feel better. That's the devil, bro. Seriously, you know, but if you said that to me five years ago, I'd be like, are you talking about, bro, like the devil's there trying to like, manipulate you. Like, like, yeah, like, yeah, like those thoughts are not how. That is not. That's not what God would want at all.

[Bryce Crawford]

Absolutely.

[Balin Levine]

Like, yeah, you know what I mean? And, and rather to find comfort in him and then do the things I've noticed too. Sorry, I'm, I'm totally going everywhere.

[Bryce Crawford]

No, this is so good.

[Balin Levine]

But, but I've noticed that, like. Well, let me go back to that. I noticed that I wasn't, I wasn't jerking off out of a place of like, oh, let me. Like, it wasn't even like, oh, this feels good. This. It was like, I'm stressed right now. That'll give me like 5 seconds of dopamine or like, I feel good. And then you crash. And then you feel worse.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And then you want to do it again because you already feel bad, you.

[Peach]

Know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Or then you're like, yeah, oh, let me, like I'm a binge a show now all day or whatever, you know what I mean? So I found if, if. Because everyone has temptation, you know what I mean? I also thought that, that you could just like beat things, you know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Like, like.

[Balin Levine]

Oh, yeah, that's not me. I don't have temptation to jerk off. Oh, I don't, I don't need to. You know, I mean, we have these things in us. Like we have the, the you, you have the power to be rude or not.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, it's like, like, like it's, it's, it's what you choose, you know what I mean? And what would God be proud of? You know? I mean, how would you like to, to honor, honor him, you know? I mean, like, like, like back to what we were saying about laziness. You gave me this beautiful life and I'm gonna sit here and do nothing when I get stressed.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, I mean, no, I'm gonna talk to you, I'm gonna, I'm gonna trust in you, you know what I mean? And then I'm gonna use these beautiful gifts you gave me. And instead of masturbating, I'm gonna go to the gym, you know what I mean? I'm gonna go outside in the sun.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know, I mean, I'm gonna go.

[Balin Levine]

Spend time with people that love me. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go to church. I'm gonna go to adoration.

[Peach]

I'm gonna, you know, I mean, I'm.

[Balin Levine]

Gonna go do things that I know are, are will actually help me.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And I think that's the, that's the. What was the original question?

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah, it's like, you want to do things that are life giving and that give glory to God.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

When you feel tempted. Because that's what. I love that description you gave because you're like, that's the devil. He says, hey, do this thing one more time. And then you do it. And then the devil goes, why'd you do that? And then he goes, hey, you should do it one more time because you already screwed up. So like, what's the difference if you already do it once? And then you just bury yourself in shame and shame and shame. And there's this quote I always bring up because I think it's the coolest ever, but it's so true. Satan knows your name. But he calls you by your sin. But Jesus knows all of your sin. But he calls you by your name. Because the devil knows my name. You know, my name is Bryce. Yeah, but he only calls me by my junk. You're worthless. You're this, you're that, you're shame. But Jesus knows all my shame and all my junk. But he chooses to call me his son. He calls me Bryce and he calls me higher. And that's encouraging and that's uplifting. And it's like, yeah, I'm going to go to the gym if I got testosterone running through my body because not only does it get rid of the testosterone, but I'm glorifying God with my health. It's like a two in one right there. You know, I'm going to go in the sun and enjoy the beautiful weather because one day I'm not going to get to have weather in heaven. It's just going to be light because God's glory is keeping it laying out. So I'm going to enjoy the sun and I'm going to, you know, give glory to God with my body. And it's, you know, it's like. And it's so crazy because I remember we did an episode like recently with this guy, Santa Cruz Medicinals. He does like, health stuff. And I love what he compared to. He's like, you know, a lot of people, he was comparing him food. He was like, you know, a lot of people, they only eat like processed crap food. And so like their body's accustomed to it. So then when they eat healthy, they are like, body feels like crap. But if you go like a month detox for bad food and you eat healthy and then you try to eat bad food, you realize that you feel way better eating healthy. And he's like. And I like correlate that to spiritual life. It's like you get so accustomed to sin.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

Then the moment you try to like deny your flesh and feed your spirit. Spirit, it feels like uncomfortable. But then when you feed your spirit for so long and then you like screw up, you get that conviction. You're like, that, that sucked. Like, that was like the worst.

[Balin Levine]

Yeah.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

You know, it's so interesting because you.

[Balin Levine]

Don'T know that you're saying these things.

[Bryce Crawford]

Yeah. You don't know how good you'll feel living for Jesus until you give it a shot. And then you realize that that's the best life and that's the healthiest life and that's like the most joyful, free life.

[Balin Levine]

And then you get to do you get to do that for so many others?

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

I respect you so much because it's like, what a better what a what. What more could I, I possibly, like, ask for. For these kids to. To be watching and to looking up to. And to. To like, you know, these things and then you go get to spread it.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And it's like being able to, like, have a boy that's going through something that wants to go turn to, even if it's just like being mean.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, I mean, it doesn't have to be masturbation or drugs or.

[Charlie]

Yeah, yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, I mean, it can be. It can be letting your insecurities get the best of you. Insecurities are not. That's, that's. That's the devil, bro. Like, and people like, like, like some people would be like, bro, like, you have feelings that you're feeling insecure. You're not meant to.

[Charlie]

You're.

[Balin Levine]

You're. You're meant to love yourself. You're meant to love others.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

You're meant to forgive. You're meant to. To hate.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, not. You're meant to hate. You're not supposed to feel that hate.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, and it's harder. It's harder to, like, someone does you wrong and, and it's. And to not be like, yeah, screw them.

[Bryce Crawford]

It's hard to turn the other cheek harder, you know?

[Balin Levine]

But if you can feel empathy and if you can. Me and him, bro. Me and him just had a falling out eight months ago.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And then I was like, what are we. What am I doing? Yeah, like. Like why I don't want hate in my heart for. For my brother.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And. And. And calling him up and apologizing to each other and reconnecting. And that doesn't mean you need to be besties with everyone. There are some people where you should have distance or there's some people where if they're repetitively like, it's a different story, but just remove yourself.

[Charlie]

Yep.

[Balin Levine]

The biggest thing I've learned too, and I didn't understand this is. Is when I, When I, When I, When I really grew in my prayer, p. Would tell me, pray for the people you don't like. I was like, huh?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

What?

[Charlie]

Yeah?

[Balin Levine]

What do you mean, yeah? And he was like, don't let your heart feel that. Pray for them. Because why are they acting this way? Why did they. Why did someone lie to you?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know, I mean, why did someone.

[Balin Levine]

Because they're dealing with things.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Maybe they're insecure. Maybe they, They're. Someone treated them a certain way. Maybe their dad did this to them. Maybe.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And that changed my perspective.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, because it's so easy to be like, you did me dirty.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Like, get away from me, bro. Yeah, I'm praying on your downfall. Like, no, that's not the way. Pray for them. Pray that they find, you know, pray that they find God. Pray that they find happiness. Pray that they find they work through that insecurity, you know what I mean? And it. And it lifts. It lifts not only for you. You feel such a lift of like, not feeling that hate dragging you down.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

But then, like, imagine them being lifted of their insecurity and then you see each other and it's. And it's. And it's love or you never see them again. But they. Yeah, you wish the best for them in life and you pray that they have a good life and they get to, you know, do that, you know, and, and, and that changed my. Changed my perspective. So. So I would say prayer. Finding back to the question is, is the power of prayer has changed my.

[Peach]

Life, you know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

In every aspect. And not even just prayer, but in living. Living for God, you know, it didn't make sense to me when someone said, like, even recently, there's. There was. I was in church and they were talking about, like. Like, you shouldn't love your family more than you love God.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, like along those lines. And I was like, huh?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

But like, can I love them equally? Like, yeah, I love my family, you know, I love. But it's like in loving God, in putting God first, the relationship that you can have. When I say relationship, I'm not talking about romantic. I'm talking about in friendships, romantically, family. That is where you. When you live for God like that what you can actually achieve, you know, I mean, is. Is so greater because you're not supposed to cling so tight, you know? I mean, you should give. You should give that up to God.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And, and, and because, like I said, growing up, I liked. I liked holding my wheel, you know? I mean, I wanted control of things, and not even in a. In a negative way, but I'm saying, like. Like it was hard for me just to let go, but being able to put God first.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

In. In my relationships and the things I do and everything has changed my life.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, and it's. It's. It's. It's beautiful.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You know, it's amazing.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

If you could encourage people watching, listening to something with faith turn into Jesus, like, what would you say to someone?

[Balin Levine]

I would say. I would say that, like, don't just go to church because it's Sunday.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Or. Or read a verse and not take it in. Or like, like, really go to build your relationship with God.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, do these things not because you want something or not because it's what you're supposed to do or not because, like. Like, I made the mistake of, like, oh, it's Sunday. Let me go.

[Charlie]

You know?

[Balin Levine]

I mean, like, oh, church. Like, I have to go. It's Sunday. Oh, because you want to build that relationship. Just as. Just as I remember, they said this. They. They. They said this very, very recently. Sorry, what was I saying? Up.

[Bryce Crawford]

We were talking about.

[Peach]

Oh.

[Balin Levine]

His name was Father. Father Tamro. He said you don't just go to your family's house and eat and then dip.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

You go there and you talk and you. And you build a relationship. It's not just about showing up and getting the food and leaving, you know, and. And that stuck out to me so much because I'm. I'm very adhd. I'm very all over the place. Like, I would be like, oh, I'm going to church. I'm doing the right thing. You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

And I. But I wasn't listening. I wasn't really building that relationship and that. That gives me. Like, I said, my focus is really bad, so I have to follow along and really stay on task. And, like, even just singing helps me because it keeps me in the moment and I don't drift off. But. But like, like, really focus on God should be a friend.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like, God is like. Like. And a father, but. But, like, sometimes I just. I'm like, it can be casual. Like, I'll just be like, hey, God, like, I'm having a tough day, or, hey, God, I'm so thankful for this. And it doesn't have to be like. Like, you don't have to be. So it should be a relationship.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Yeah, because I used to think, like, down, and it's like, oh, you have to say a certain. You have to say it a certain way. And you have to, like. Like, it was more of like a. A task. Of like, this is. This is. Right, Like.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Charlie]

Yep.

[Balin Levine]

And it's all about building a relationship. Similar to when you let. When I let Peejin.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

It deepened us, and I was able to learn and we're able to take from each other.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

If you let God in and you're honest and you're vulnerable and you are speaking to him about everything and not just when you're struggling, but when.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

When you're doing well, when. When. When you're not doing well, when you are. When you're tempted or when you're not tempted and you just want to have him, you know, remind you and show you the path and. And show you the way to. To just keep that relationship.

[Peach]

I don't.

[Balin Levine]

I don't. I don't just call Page if I'm hurting.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

We stay connected.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

And he. God loves you so much.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

If you're afraid or you're. You're. You don't even know where to begin. It's like sometimes it's intimidating.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

Sometimes it's like I don't know what I'm doing in church.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Balin Levine]

I don't know what that means. I don't know. He loves you.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

Like. Like he understands. He knows everything. So. So it's. It's. It's. It's really just about building. That's the best piece of advice I can give is. Is giving, being able to grow that relationship and allowing him to come in.

[Peach]

You know what I mean?

[Balin Levine]

So. Yeah.

[Charlie]

Yeah.

[Bryce Crawford]

I think that's great. I think that's profound and beautiful. Let me. Let me pray for us to close us out. That's cool. Jesus, thank you so much for today. God. Thank you for the weather. Thank you for breath inside of our lungs. Thank you for waking us up. Thank you for Balin and thank you for our conversation. God, I just pray that this conversation blesses people. God, I just. Thank you that you're in the room. Thank you that you love us. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for him dying on the cross, for our sins and raising from the dead. God, we love you and we're so grateful for you. God, would you just move. You continue to move in our hearts and in our minds. God, we just love you so much. We're grateful for you. We appreciate you. Thank you for allowing us to get to have a conversation. Bless everyone watching and listening. We love you, Jesus. It's in your name we pray. Amen.

[Balin Levine]

Amen.

[Bryce Crawford]

Guys, thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode. If you guys like it, subscribe to us on YouTube. Follow us on Spotify, Instagram and TikTok. Bless you guys and see you guys next week for the next episode.

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